socrates said, "all i know is i know nothing'. and for that he was executed by the athenians.
religion seeks truth by faith
science by facts
and philosophy by reason
how do you know that what you know is true? where do you base it?
2007-12-13 19:36:04 · 14 answers · asked by the lioness 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
i don't - it's just a conventient working assumption
2007-12-13 19:43:47 · answer #1 · answered by Ivanhoe Fats 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If your metaphysics is benevolent, objective reality is the validation of knowledge (epistemology) but if your metaphysics is malevolent or undefined, no validation is required - that is, it can be right based on whim, wish, feeling, desire, faith, edict, etc...
All knowledge is hierarchical. Start with a simple fact - I have two hands. Refer to the definitions of each word and make sure you understand what is meant by the concept 'two' and the concept 'hand'. Using every means available to you, confirm your hypothesis that you indeed have two hands - can you see them? Do they show up on video, do any extras? Does your trusted associate also see two of them? Do they make an impression on an external environment (that you must also confirm similarly), ie, do you leave hand prints in wet sand etc? Keep going etc...
Socrates was compelled (by an oracle) to seek out experts and in any given sphere of knowledge, and using logic prove that even though he did not know anything about the matter under discussion, at least he knew that he was lacking in knowledge - whereas the 'expert' was under the erroneous presumption of complete knowledge... This proved to be embarrassing to them, and they had powerful friends.
2007-12-14 23:33:49 · answer #2 · answered by Mr. Wizard 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I base what I know on what I knew before and on some set do's and dont's of how to avoid physical and mental pain most important of which is don't cause your own death. Then I take every day as an event that never has, never will, and never can, reoccur. In that way it would be accurate to know that all I know is I know nothing. Every experience is unique to that exact event and can never be the same again, so to say you know that event, is wrong because it will not be what you know ever again.
2007-12-14 05:19:35 · answer #3 · answered by pingpong 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No kidding, this is right out of John Henry Newman !!
"Religion seeks truth by faith, and science by facts." There is so much confusion in that thinking, if you want to call it that. If you are serious get JHN's Grammar of Assent and/or his University Sermons. Or at the least, read his sermon 'Usurpation of Reason'.
2007-12-14 11:56:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Great question!!
The only yardstick we have to identify the truth is through its consistency and repetitive predictability...... hence all our truth is vulnerable at the hands of the ever present 'future uncertainty'..... in other words, our truth is the truth only for the time being and so long as it lasts. I believe that given long enough time, any and every truth we believe in would be contradicted one way or the other, because time is defined by change and truth is defined by unchangeability.
2007-12-14 04:42:30 · answer #5 · answered by small 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some people are afraid of theTruth ,they seek to deny what is obvious.Religion helps people to see things through blinkered sunglasses.Socrates died for telling the Truth.(In the 21st century we should leave all that Religious mumbo jumbo and superstitious belief behind us).
2007-12-15 05:56:04 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to me a belief has a base of experiences.Experiences helped me a lot to judge what is correct or incorrect or watever it is.Not only my experiences but i've believed in many things by seeing what others did and its consequences.But i may not believe tomorrow what i believe in today,now that will again be the effect of some experience.So ultimately it is all a game of time, our reactions to things and our mindset........
2007-12-14 04:01:41 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
based on faith, science and reason.. whatever works for whatever thought/question I have.. I am a believer of Jesus Christ, I am a woman of science and a philosopher in my own right..
2007-12-14 06:56:40 · answer #8 · answered by ash 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I base it on my own beliefs. If I believe me I don't need any proof.
2007-12-14 09:41:31 · answer #9 · answered by trader 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i don't know much...but most of what i say are based on observation and experience.
2007-12-14 04:45:20 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I really don't know...and I think nobody really knows...
Just try to live as how you believe...and I think we'll be ok..
2007-12-14 03:54:34 · answer #11 · answered by Ronnie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋