The Nature of Knowledge
How Do We Experience the World Around Us?
- Perception: Our senses provide raw data about the world.
- Interpretation: Our minds process and interpret this data, forming beliefs and knowledge.
This distinction is crucial in philosophy, as it raises questions about the reliability of our senses and the role of the mind in shaping our understanding of reality.
Rationalism and Empiricism
Rationalism
Emphasizes reason as the primary source of knowledge.
- Key Idea: Certain truths are innate or can be discovered through logical deduction.
- Philosophers: Descartes, Plato.
Descartes' famous statement, "Cogito, ergo sum" ("I think, therefore I am"), illustrates rationalism by asserting that the certainty of one's own existence is derived from reason alone.
Empiricism
Argues that knowledge comes from sensory experience.
- Key Idea: The mind is a "tabula rasa" (blank slate) at birth, and all knowledge is built from experience.
- Philosophers: Locke, Hume.
Locke's theory of the mind as a blank slate emphasizes that all ideas originate from sensory experiences or reflections on those experiences.
TipWhen analyzing rationalism and empiricism, consider how each approach addresses the reliability of knowledge and the role of the mind in processing information.
Pratibha: Knowing What, Knowing That, and Knowing How
- Pratibha: A concept from Indian philosophy, often translated as "intuition" or "insight."
- Bhartrhari: A key philosopher who explored this idea, emphasizing the role of language and intuition in knowledge.
