Total Philosophy: Epistemology - How we gain knowledge

Summary

This script explores the origins of knowledge through the lenses of Empiricism and Rationalism. Emphasizing John Locke's 'Tabula Rasa' theory, it suggests that our minds are born blank, filling with concepts as we experience the world through our senses. Scottish philosopher David Hume supports this view, arguing that our ideas stem from sensory experiences. Rationalists, like Descartes, counter by asserting that certain knowledge, such as mathematics, is innate and not reliant on experience. Immanuel Kant offers a middle ground, proposing that we are born with 'predetermined conceptual schemes' that help us interpret our experiences. The video concludes by inviting viewers to share their thoughts on knowledge acquisition and to suggest future philosophical topics.

Takeaways

• 🌞 Empiricism posits that all knowledge is derived from sensory experience.
• 🧠 Rationalism asserts that certain knowledge can be acquired through reason alone, independent of experience.
• 👶 John Locke, an Empiricist, believed in the 'Tabula Rasa' concept, suggesting that the mind is a blank slate at birth.
• 🐶 Locke argued that the mind fills with ideas and concepts as we encounter them through our senses.
• 🔗 Locke also suggested that the mind groups simple concepts to form more complex ones, like combining 'cat', 'dog', and 'cow' to understand 'animals'.
• 🎨 David Hume supported the Empiricist view, illustrating that a blind man cannot conceive colors without the sense of sight.
• 🤔 Rationalists, like Descartes, counter that we can understand abstract concepts like mathematics without prior sensory experience.
• 🔢 Descartes used the concept of a 'chiliagon' to argue that some ideas are not derived from sensory input.
• 🚢 Immanuel Kant introduced a middle ground, suggesting we are born with innate concepts that help us interpret our experiences.
• ⛴ Kant used the analogy of a ship on a river to explain how our innate concept of causality allows us to recognize objects as consistent despite changes in perception.

Q & A

What is empiricism, and how does it explain the way we gain knowledge?

Empiricism is a philosophical view that argues all knowledge comes from sensory experience. According to this view, our minds start as a 'blank slate' (Tabula Rasa), and we gain ideas and concepts as we experience things through our senses, such as touch, sight, and sound.

How does John Locke's concept of 'Tabula Rasa' relate to knowledge acquisition?

John Locke's concept of 'Tabula Rasa' suggests that when we are born, our minds are empty of all ideas and concepts. As we begin to experience the world through our senses, we gradually acquire knowledge, which builds into more complex ideas over time.

How does David Hume support empiricism in his philosophy?

David Hume supports empiricism by arguing that people without certain senses, like a blind person with no concept of colors or a deaf person with no notion of sounds, can only form ideas when those senses are restored. This suggests that knowledge comes directly from sensory experiences.

What is the key difference between empiricism and rationalism?

The key difference is that empiricism claims all knowledge comes from sensory experience, while rationalism argues that some knowledge can be gained through reason and thought alone, without needing sensory experience.

How does René Descartes argue in favor of rationalism?

René Descartes supports rationalism by pointing out that we can conceive abstract concepts, like a chiliagon (a 1,000-sided shape), or understand mathematical ideas like 'equals' and 'square root' without ever having directly experienced them through our senses.

What modern perspective does Immanuel Kant offer regarding knowledge acquisition?

Immanuel Kant argues that we are born with certain innate concepts, which he calls 'predetermined conceptual schemes,' that allow us to make sense of the world. Without these innate concepts, our sensory experiences would be chaotic and unintelligible.

What analogy does Kant use to illustrate the role of innate concepts in our perception?

Kant uses the analogy of a ship sailing down a river. Without the innate concept of causality, we would perceive the ship as a different object each time it moves. The concept of causality helps us understand that it is the same ship over time, despite changes in its position.

How does Kant's theory differ from both empiricism and rationalism?

Kant's theory is a blend of both empiricism and rationalism. He believes that while we need sensory experiences to form knowledge, these experiences are shaped by innate concepts we are born with, unlike pure empiricism which denies any form of innate knowledge.

Can all knowledge be gained through sensory experience, according to rationalists?

No, rationalists argue that some knowledge, particularly in areas like mathematics, logic, and abstract concepts, can be gained through reasoning alone, without relying on sensory experience.

What is the central question the video script poses about knowledge acquisition?

The central question posed is: 'How do we come to know things?' It explores different philosophical perspectives on how we gain knowledge, specifically contrasting empiricism, rationalism, and Kant's theory of innate concepts.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Understanding Knowledge Acquisition

This paragraph delves into the philosophical debate on how we acquire knowledge. It introduces two primary schools of thought: Empiricism, which posits that all knowledge comes from experience, and Rationalism, which asserts that some knowledge can be derived from reason alone. John Locke, an Empiricist, is highlighted for his theory of Tabula Rasa, suggesting that the mind is a blank slate at birth, filling with ideas and concepts as we experience the world through our senses. The paragraph also touches on the Scottish Philosopher David Hume's support for this view, emphasizing the importance of sensory experience in forming ideas. In contrast, Rationalists like Descartes argue that certain concepts, such as mathematics, can be understood without sensory experience, challenging the Empiricist perspective. Lastly, Immanuel Kant's theory is mentioned, which posits that we are born with innate concepts that help us make sense of our experiences, suggesting a middle ground between Empiricism and Rationalism.

Keywords

💡Empiricism

Empiricism is a philosophical theory that posits all knowledge is derived from sensory experience. In the video, it is introduced as one of the two original schools of thought on how we gain knowledge, suggesting that our understanding of the world, such as the concept of a 'dog' or 'car', is built upon our interactions with it. John Locke, a proponent of empiricism, is mentioned as arguing that the mind is a 'tabula rasa' or blank slate at birth, which is filled with ideas as we experience the world.

💡Rationalism

Rationalism is the philosophical view that reason and logic are the primary sources of knowledge, rather than experience. The video contrasts this with empiricism, suggesting that some knowledge, like mathematical concepts, can be known without sensory experience. Descartes, a rationalist, is cited as arguing that one can conceive of a 'chiliagon'—a thousand-sided shape—without ever having seen one, challenging the empiricist claim that all knowledge comes from experience.

💡Tabula Rasa

The term 'tabula rasa', meaning 'blank slate' in Latin, is used by John Locke to describe the mind at birth as being devoid of any ideas or concepts. The video explains that, according to Locke, it is through sensory experiences that the mind acquires knowledge. This concept is central to the empiricist view that the mind is shaped entirely by experience.

💡David Hume

David Hume, a Scottish philosopher, is mentioned in the video as supporting the empiricist view. He is quoted as saying that a blind man cannot form a notion of colors, implying that sensory experience is necessary for the formation of ideas. Hume's perspective reinforces the idea that our understanding of the world is built upon what we perceive through our senses.

💡Innate Concepts

Innate concepts are ideas or knowledge that we are born with, as opposed to those acquired through experience. Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher, is introduced in the video as arguing for the existence of such concepts, which he calls 'predetermined conceptual schemes'. These innate concepts, according to Kant, allow us to make sense of our experiences, such as perceiving a moving boat as the same object despite changes in its appearance.

💡Causality

Causality refers to the relationship between cause and effect. In the video, Kant uses the analogy of a ship sailing down a river to illustrate how our innate concept of causality allows us to understand that the boat is the same object despite changes in its position. This concept is integral to Kant's argument that we have predetermined conceptual schemes that help us interpret sensory input.

💡Chiliagon

A 'chiliagon' is a hypothetical shape with one thousand sides, used by Descartes in the video to illustrate the rationalist argument that some knowledge can be conceived without experience. The concept is used to challenge the empiricist view by showing that one can understand the properties of a chiliagon through reason alone, without ever having seen such a shape.

💡Senses

The senses—touch, taste, sight, sound, and smell—are the means through which we experience the world, according to the empiricist view presented in the video. They are the pathways through which our minds gain ideas and concepts, such as the recognition of a 'cat' or 'car'. The video emphasizes the importance of sensory experience in shaping our understanding of reality.

💡Concepts

Concepts, in the context of the video, are the mental constructs or ideas that represent objects, ideas, or classes of things. The video discusses how our minds form concepts through sensory experiences and how these concepts can be combined to form more complex ideas, such as grouping 'cat', 'dog', and 'cow' to form the concept of 'animals'.

💡Idea Formation

Idea formation is the process by which the mind creates concepts or ideas based on sensory input or reasoning. The video explores how this process works within the frameworks of both empiricism and rationalism, showing how experiences like seeing a dog for the first time lead to the formation of the concept of 'dog', and how reasoning can lead to the concept of a 'chiliagon'.

💡Immanuel Kant

Immanuel Kant is a German philosopher who is discussed in the video for his synthesis of empiricism and rationalism. Kant's theory of 'predetermined conceptual schemes' suggests that we are born with certain concepts that structure our experiences and allow us to understand the world. His views offer a middle ground between the strict reliance on experience and the pure use of reason.

Highlights

The sky is blue and the sun shines, but how do we come to know these things?

Empiricism suggests that all knowledge comes from experience.

Rationalism argues that some knowledge can be gained through reason alone.

John Locke, an empiricist, proposed the concept of 'Tabula Rasa', or a blank slate mind at birth.

Locke believed that the mind gains ideas and concepts through sensory experiences.

David Hume supported the empiricist view, stating that ideas come from sense experience.

Rationalists like Descartes argue that mathematical concepts can be known without experience.

Descartes used the concept of a 'chiliagon' to illustrate knowledge without experience.

Immanuel Kant introduced a middle ground, suggesting we are born with innate concepts.

Kant's theory includes 'Predetermined conceptual schemes' that help us make sense of the world.

Kant's analogy of a ship sailing down a river explains the role of innate concepts in perception.

The debate between empiricism and rationalism is central to understanding how we gain knowledge.

John Locke's view implies that without sensory input, our minds would remain empty.

Rationalism challenges the empiricist notion that all knowledge is derived from the senses.

Kant's philosophy suggests a combination of innate concepts and sensory experience shapes our knowledge.

The ship analogy highlights the importance of causality in our understanding of change and continuity.

The discussion invites viewers to consider their own theories on how knowledge is acquired.

Total Philosophy encourages viewers to share their thoughts and ideas in the comments.

Transcripts

When I wake up in the morning

I know that the sky is going to be blue

And that the sun will be shining

The tweeting I hear are birds singing

I know that when I go downstairs

And feed my cat

He will have four legs and will be ginger

And that the big metal box with wheels outside my house is called a car

But how do I know these things?

How did I come to be of this knowledge?

What allowed me to gain my concepts of

Sky Sun Birds Cat and Car?

There have originally been two schools of thought to how we come to be of knowledge

Empiricism which argues that we gain all of our knowledge from experience

And rationalism which argues that certain knowledge

Can be gained just by reason and thinking

British Philosopher John Locke

Was an Empiricist and argued that when we are born

Our minds are in the state of Tabula Rasa

Which when translated to English

Simply translates as blank slate

But what does John Locke mean by this?

Well John Locke was basically saying that when we are born

Our minds are completely empty of all ideas and concepts

And that as we start to experience things through our senses

Such as touch taste sight sound and smell

Our minds start to gain those ideas and concepts

We are all familiar with

For instance a new born baby might see a dog

And therefore gain the concept of dog

On top of this Locke says as our mind gains certain concepts

It starts to group them together to form more complex concepts

For example it may group the concepts of Cat Dog and Cow together

To form the concept of animals

Or group Box Wheels Motor together

To form the concept of car

This view on how we gain knowledge is supported by Scottish Philosopher

And heavy pie eater David Hume

Who says A blind man can form no notion of colours

A deaf man of sounds

Restore either of them that sense in which he is deficient

By opening this new inlet for his sensations

You also open an inlet for the ideas

And he finds no difficulty in conceiving these objects

This suggests that surely then our ideas can only come from our sense experience

However rationalists would strongly disagree

And instead argue that there is some knowledge

That we can get without needing to have experienced anything

For example a rationalist like Descartes

Would argue that concepts such as mathematics

Can be gained without experience

He backs up this claim by saying that we can conceive the concept of a chiliagon

A one thousand sided shape

Without having experienced such an object

Other mathematical concepts such as

Square root equals and plus

Also do not seem to have come from experience

Implying that the Empiricist view that that all knowledge comes from sense experience

is false

Lastly we will have a look at another more modern view of how we gain knowledge

Raised by German Philosopher Immanuel Kant

Kant is neither an empiricist nor is he a rationalist

Instead being German he created his own theory

Kant argued that we are all born with certain innate concepts

That allow us to make sense of the world

The official term he gives to these are

Predetermined conceptual schemes

Kant argues that without these concepts our experiences would just be a unintelligible

buzz of sensation

To illustrate this point he gives the the analogy of a ship sailing down a river

He says that if we looked at a ship sailing down a river

Without the predetermined concept of casualty

We would perceive the boat as a different object every time it moved

And our perception of it changed

It is only our concept of causality that we are born with

That tells us that the boat is the same boat that we saw a few seconds ago up the river

So what do you think?

How did you become to know of things?

Please leave your thoughts and ideas in the comments below

Please tell us what philosopher or theory you would like next

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