Epistemology is the science of knowing – an orderly way of thinking about knowledge and making decisions about when something is proven. The essence of epistemology, in three words, is justified true belief. If you believe something, and if you have a good reason to believe it, and if it is indeed true, then it is reasonable to say that you know it. Let’s consider each of those requirements.
Read MoreFrom an epistemological perspective, there are hard limits to how much can be known. The people in charge have to make difficult and necessary decisions. But you shouldn’t think those decisions were always based on good information. Information doesn’t just emerge out of necessity when we ask important questions.
Read MoreA well-told story is enjoyable and a good story teller is an artist. A good story doesn’t have to be true. But when you are looking for authoritative information to justify belief, you need to separate the facts from the narrative. Trust the facts, maybe. Don’t trust the narrative.
Read MoreYou can’t be content to say, “This is what I think.” You need to ask yourself, “Why do I think this? What is my evidence?”
Read MoreOur greatest challenge in knowing what’s true is deciding whether to trust sources. Most of the things we believe have been told to us by someone else rather than by us observing them ourselves. We trust sources for most of what we know. So it is especially dire that sources are so often unreliable. Here is a famous and notorious example.
Read MoreThere is a truth regarding whether Bush did or didn’t shirk his duty. It is not merely a matter of opinion or political expediency. It does not depend on whether we like Bush or not. Only 47 years have passed, and nearly everyone involved remains alive. But the truth seems undiscoverable.
Read MoreIt is the nature of historical research to give the greatest weight to matters with the greatest preponderance of evidence. Most accounts of Shiloh uncritically blame Wallace. There is a century and a half of documentary “proof” stacked against Wallace. History is about evidence, and even if the evidence is wrong, it is still the stuff history is made of.
Read MoreLogic is a formal thought process — a set of rules for how to think. An idea is logical if it passes the tests of the logical process. Even then, logic is a very limited aid to knowing. Logic is not a shortcut. Calling an idea “logical” does not make it true. Logic is also not a superpower. Anyone who declares, mysteriously, “Just believe me!” or “Trust me about this!” isn’t being logical and doesn’t deserve trust.
Read MoreEpistemology is the search for justified true belief. Each of these three stories relates a time when a correct conclusion was drawn from available evidence and correct action followed. A little bit of math came in useful. But the main ingredient in all three cases was careful thought built upon clear definitions and consistent measurement. Those three elements — and not computers and software — are the essentials to knowing what’s true.
Read MoreBritta’s blend of fervency and sincerity and fallibility are insufferable.
Read MoreClick an icon to explore a subject deeper:
Johns Hopkins University President Ronald Daniels
Click an icon below for more information about these major themes:
Powered by Squarespace.
