Does any knowledge come before experience?

Question

Hume proposes that ALL knowledge is gained through sense experience. Are there any good counter-examples where knowledge PRECEEDS experience (as generated by impressions)? I already know of the color example that Hume ponders.

Answer 1

That is a very good question. And one that cannot be answered definitively! For some, such as Socrates and Plato, Knowledge exists eternally as Forms. There is an ideal Form for everything in the universe. For instance, think of a chair. Now I am thinking of a chair. I would be willing to bet that the chairs that we are thinking about are in no way identical. What they have in common is their "chairness". We both understand what makes up a chair and that is because our souls have access to the Forms (this particular one being the Form of the Chair). Plato's "Meno" is a good work to read that discusses this very issue. Of course, The Republic does as well.

You already gave a good example of experience preceeding knowledge. By the way, Socrates and Plato believed knowledge was "apriori" (known prior to existence), while Hume believed it to be "a posteriori" (known because of experience).

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

A certain amount of knowledge is already there in the genes for a newly born.
But, just to argue, one may say it is parents' experience handed down through the genes.
Secondly, our logic faculty has the power to create knowledge without experience - but then one may argue the deduction is from another knowledge that came from experience.

Answer 3

there is not something extra effective than adventure whilst it includes the militia, any branch. that's my short adventure in dealing with officers for the era of my military occupation. they arrive out of OCS or West factor scared yet positioned on a solid practice so as that they don't look too vulnerable or stupid. whether, lots of the clever are advised to hearken to the NCO's and ask for their suggestion. Many did and worked out somewhat properly. yet, those comparable new Lt.'s could get promoted to 1st. Lt., pin on their silver bar and all became lost after that. you ought to not tell them something, they knew all of it. It appeared like whilst they made Captain, they settled down somewhat and used extra effortless experience. Majors the place cool and infrequently led to any difficulty. Lt. Colonials could get the super HEAD and that all of them have been given the Patton Syndrom it appeared and the extra rank they have been given the extra severe they grew to alter into. So, i think of 2d. Lt.'s, Captains and Majors have been in all probability my favorites. something have been impossible to tell something.

Answer 4

what's in the mind has to have passed through the senses; what's important to keep in mind is that there are both internal and external senses; the external senses are those of touch, taste, sight, hearing, and smelling. the internal senses include memory, imagination, perception or common sense, and the estimative sense.

Answer 5

would this count?

you have knowledge of what will happen to you if you step out in front of a bus without having to experience it first.

Answer 6

Yes....but not necessarily our own experience.

I learn a lot from other people's experiences....I don't need to knock my head into a wall because by watching other people do it I know it hurts.

Answer 7

knowledge is gained through experience the only time it isnt is if you listen to your parents

Answer 8

Not even bothering with your diatribe in example, and with no offense meant I offer this.

"Knowledge is usually something we acquire AFTER we NEED it!"

So sayeth Steven Wolf

Answer 9

there is the did you learn how to get water out of the bath tub by experience or by being shown

Answer 10

Just tha tknowledge we are born with, like a sense of balance and the fear of fallilng.