What+Constitutes+Knowledge

__What Constitutes Knowledge?__ Adam Elass 10/12/09 · There is a distinct difference between belief and knowledge. · In order for a belief to be accepted as knowledge (at least by some people’s standards), it must be true and justified. · The Gettier problem goes against the definition of knowledge as having to be a true and justified belief. · Gettier provides two counter-examples to the concept of JTB (Justified True Belief). · Several methods exist to allow people to try and gain knowledge. · Two different types of knowledge, one that is gained without the need to observe the world around you, and one that is gained after one observes the world or interacts with it. · Philosophers have different views as to what actually constitutes knowledge (controversial issue). · A reason behind the ongoing debate as to what constitutes knowledge is the fact that there are limits to justification. · What justifies knowledge as truth is a broad question because there are several different opinions as well as different approaches to justifying knowledge. · Other philosophers that disagree with the idea of knowledge as needing to have justification, truth, and belief to be considered knowledge also believe that an individual can meet these requirements through a defect or flaw, and that those that do should be considered to have knowledge (at least of what they are trying to prove). · “Our definition of knowledge requires that the believer’s evidence is such that it logically necessitates the truth of belief.” · If, to be knowledge, something must be true and justified, then to be justified, the knowledge must be recognized as true. · However, justification of knowledge (or recognizing knowledge to be true) has different requirements among different groups of people.

Based on the information above, my opinion is that knowledge really is just knowing something, being able to understand it, but not always to a certain depth. It’s not a very solid definition (especially since the word being defined is used in the definition), but knowledge itself is hard to define. This is because there are several different ways people define knowledge and so many different perceptions as to what it really means. For example, the concept of JTB is one perception, and the counter-examples that some other philosophers provide show their different perceptions. As well as perception, there are several other ways of knowing, such as logic, that can affect one's views and their justification of knowledge.

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