PHILOSOPHY - Epistemology: Introduction to Theory of Knowledge [HD]

Summary

In this video, Jennifer Nagel from the University of Toronto delves into the concept of knowledge, a human pursuit that is both natural and complex. She distinguishes between knowing a fact and merely believing in it, emphasizing that knowledge must be true and confidently held. Nagel also introduces the idea that knowledge requires a good basis for judgment, setting the stage for exploring the nature of knowledge, skepticism, and potential solutions in upcoming videos.

Takeaways

• 🎓 Jennifer Nagel, a philosophy professor at the University of Toronto, introduces the topic of knowledge and its significance to human beings.
• 🧠 Knowledge is a concept that humans naturally seek and spend considerable time and effort to acquire.
• 🤔 Defining knowledge is challenging, particularly differentiating it from mere belief.
• 🌍 The verb 'to know' is versatile in English, used to describe knowing a person, place, language, or a fact.
• 🌧️ The script primarily focuses on 'knowledge-that', which refers to knowing a fact, such as 'Alice knows that it's raining outside'.
• 🌐 The concept of 'knowing a fact' is universal across languages, with a word for 'to know' existing in every language.
• 📉 The verb 'to know' is among the most commonly used words in the English language.
• 🔍 Knowing and believing are distinct; knowledge implies truth, whereas belief does not necessarily correspond to reality.
• 💡 Knowledge entails confidence in the truth of what is known, unlike mere suspicion or uncertainty.
• 🤨 Even confident belief in a truth is not sufficient for knowledge; the basis of the belief must be reliable.
• 🕵️‍♂️ The script raises the question of whether knowledge is even possible, considering scenarios like dreaming or being deceived.

Q & A

What does Jennifer Nagel specialize in?

Jennifer Nagel is a professor of philosophy at the University of Toronto.

What is the main topic Jennifer Nagel wants to discuss in the video?

The main topic Jennifer Nagel wants to discuss is knowledge, specifically the nature of knowledge and how it differs from mere belief.

Why do humans have a natural instinct to track what others know or don't know?

Humans track what others know or don't know to make sense of their actions and interactions.

What are some of the interesting questions and paradoxes encountered when trying to define knowledge?

When defining knowledge, one encounters questions and paradoxes about the nature of truth, confidence, and the basis of judgment that distinguishes knowledge from belief.

What does the term 'knowledge-that' refer to in the context of the video?

In the context of the video, 'knowledge-that' refers to the most common use of the verb 'to know,' which is when someone knows a fact.

How does the verb 'to know' differ in its usage when compared to 'knowing a person' or 'knowing a place'?

The verb 'to know' is used in various ways, but the focus of the video is on 'knowing a fact,' which is different from knowing a person, a place, or a language.

Why is the concept of knowledge considered globally popular and important?

The concept of knowledge is globally popular and important because every language has a word for it, and it is heavily used, often ranking among the top ten most common words in English.

What is the difference between 'knowing' and 'believing' something is true?

The difference between 'knowing' and 'believing' is that what we know must be true, whereas what we believe may or may not be true.

Why is confidence alone not sufficient for knowledge according to the video?

Confidence alone is not sufficient for knowledge because even if one is confident in a belief, it might not be true or based on a good reason.

What is the problem of skepticism as mentioned in the video?

The problem of skepticism is whether knowledge is even possible, considering scenarios where one might be mistaken about their perceptions, such as when dreaming.

What is the significance of the upcoming videos mentioned at the end of the transcript?

The upcoming videos are significant as they will explore possible solutions to the problem of skepticism and further analyze the concept of knowledge.