How do i know that my knowledge is knowledge, that my senses can be trusted in the material:?

Question

which they bring to my reason, and that my reason can be trusted with the conclusions which it derives from the material of sensation?
Should we not examine the vehicle before abandoning ourselves to its directions? Should we not do all that we can do to perfect it?

Answer 1

This question was famously raised by Rene Descartes in his book Meditations on First Philosophy. I strongly recommend this as a good resource to begin your exploration of these important questions. In the work, Descartes begins by systematically doubting all that can be doubted in order to find one certainty upon which he can rebuild his knowledge. He concludes that there is good reason to think that our senses can be trusted for some knowledge but some of our knowledge can best be gained by reason.

This leads to another question you ask about reason in general. Here the best course of study is logic; the science of evaluating reason. One of the best books to introduce yourself to logic is titled How to Think About Weird Things by Theodore Schick and Lewis Vaugn. Logic is a great antidote to poor thinking and is a very powerful tool for analyzing arguments. Like any skill, reasoning is improved when practiced. There are many great resources online for improving your reasoning skills. I wish you luck in your pursuit!

Answer 2

Ky Philosopher makes good suggestions, pointers. I add that a certain amount of faith in our nature, that it has sustained our species for this much time and more than we may certainly know is positive. Our senses work together for purposes natural and a purely negative mentality would find it impossible to exist. Many would say, and I think this is true in Gestalt psychology, that we do not abandon our self to a natural existence, but we must find our way back from self alienation, self estrangement, and then move forward again. This is a fundamental concept in psychology found in Sigmund Freud's psychology, Jung, Adler, Erick Erickson ....Are your senses working together.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erick_Erickson

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_Perls

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gestalt_prayer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coherentism


The Will is positive, the Judgment is negative.

Answer 3

It is not important to ask if your knowledge is real or not, what is important is to accept your reality "as you know it". This will lead you to your answer.

In the end it's all about finding acceptance and peace within your life, not necessarily answers. Ironically, when you let go of your search for answers, the answers come. (Letting go is the difficult part, ) There is an old Zen saying:

"When you seek it, it eludes you."

Hope this helps

Answer 4

Think postive and beleive in your self and go forth and never look back

Answer 5

Think deeper when your not stress