Re: dhw--Epistemological Framework (Humans)

by dhw, Saturday, January 22, 2011, 10:32 (5053 days ago) @ xeno6696

MATT: Dhw, at this point we are in complete agreement. Knowledge is a consensus of what we think the truth is. What is step 2?-I'm going to hold you to this, because once we've agreed to proceed on the common-sense level, there can be no return to the philosophical level (which precludes further discussion).-While we have a consensus on current and historical facts, mathematical principles, personal data, some scientific laws, there is none on issues like religion, the origin of life, the origin and nature of the universe, the nature of consciousness. It's unlikely that there ever will be, but in any case we can only discuss such topics in the light of what is known or believed in the present. What is known does not require a decision on our part (we learn that 2 + 2 = 4, and that the sun rises in the east). Belief, however, requires a decision (e.g. God exists, life originated by chance).-Step 2, then, is to establish an epistemological framework not for knowledge (already agreed), but for belief. First, though, we need to agree on a definition of belief, and so again tentatively let me propose this: possession of information which is thought to be true by some but not all individuals who are aware of it.-Establishing an epistemological framework for belief is obviously going to be a much more complicated affair, since we're moving away from our common-sense "truths", but steady as she goes...First I'll wait for the green light on the above.