Epistemology: Understanding Knowledge and Truth Theories
Understanding Knowledge and Its Types
Knowledge: Knowledge is a relationship between a subject and an object. There are two types:
- Knowledge of Things: This refers to any proposition we can provide. For example, if I see a color directly, I know it; however, a person born blind would not be able to know it.
- Propositional Knowledge: This is exclusive to humans and is established by relations between concepts.
The Three Conditions of Knowledge
- Condition of Belief: If S knows that “P”, then “S” thinks “P”. (If you do not think so, the claim to knowledge makes no sense).
- Condition of Justification: If “S” knows that P, then “S” has reason to believe that P. (I believe it, but I must also be able to explain why).
- Condition of Truth: If “S” knows that P, then P must be true. (It is not enough to believe; the statement must be factual).
Belief, Certainty, and Evidence
Belief: Belief is a subjective element of knowledge; it is the assent of the subject to a judgment. It may be justified or not, and can be true or false. Faith can be rational or irrational, depending on whether or not it is justified. (For example, believing you passed an exam without studying because you dreamed of it is irrational). To follow a set of rational beliefs, they must not only be justifiable, but they must also be consistent among themselves and present no contradictions.
Certainty: Certainty is the mental state of security in the possession of the truth; it is the opposite of doubt. When someone doubts, they cannot know, but they may have an opinion. When we have absolute certainty in a belief, we say that it is evident. Certainty and evidence are part of the subjective aspect of knowledge.
The Different Senses of Truth
Truth: Strictly speaking, there are no “true” or “false” things; certainties either are or are not. There are no false things, only false statements about things. This is the epistemological sense, i.e., in relation to our propositional knowledge.
We should consider that the term “truth” is sometimes used in other ways: the ontological sense and the moral sense.
- Ontological Sense: When truth is preached as a property of something, we use the term to distinguish authentic reality from mere appearance. Truth in this sense is that which is authentically real versus that which is ontologically false or apparent.
- Moral Sense: This refers to the sincerity of one’s belief. One makes a statement they believe to be true, rather than intending to deceive. The moral sense helps us understand the difference between truth and lies.
Major Theories of Truth
Theory of Truth as Correspondence: According to this theory, the truth of a statement is consistent with the facts. As Aristotle said: “To say of what is that it is not, or of what is not that it is, is false.”
Theory of Truth as Coherence: To avoid the problem of having to compare a thought with external reality, some philosophers prefer to consider that what determines the truth of a statement is its coherence or consistency with other statements in the system. Inconsistency with the established body of beliefs makes a statement false. This conception of truth predominates in the sciences, which deal with objects or ideals of thought and must abide by internal consistency.
The Pragmatic Theory of Truth: Pragmatism assumes the cognizing subject is not a “disembodied consciousness” or pure thought, but a living being who acts. Unlike correspondence, pragmatists believe that the objectivity of knowledge consists of intersubjectivity. That is, a statement is not true because it corresponds to an object independent of any cognizing subject, but because it depends on a consensus among people. Truth is, therefore, a social construct. Humanity considers true those interpretations and beliefs that work in practice, which have useful consequences for survival and welfare, and which allow one to solve problems and satisfy needs.