Knowing
Note: All written assignments will be 3-5 pages — exclusive of cover pages and references — double-spaced, with informal citations. All possible sources are acceptable with appropriate care and attention. The longer your paper, the more likely you will have time to cover the material in detail.
What does it take to know something? As pointed out by Jenkins and Steup in “The Analysis of Knowledge,” it’s not enough simply to believe that we know something. Do the three connected components of knowing proposed by philosophers — justified true belief — offer a compelling response, from your point of view? Importantly, recall Kant’s views on knowledge, belief, and opinion (discussed in the readings for the first module — Part III, Week VII, Philosophy of Science: section 20, “The Anatomy of Wisdom”): have we built upon Kant in order to arrive at “JTB”? Do you feel that you could accurately distinguish between an “opinion” and a “belief” (true or not) as a result of your work in this course?