Epistemology. Some epistemological questions:

Transcription

1 Epistemology The word that means the theory of knowledge ; this is the theoretical area that explores how we know what we know. This should be an important area for school people to explore...? Some epistemological questions: Where does knowledge come from? What is the place of experience in generating knowledge? What is the place of reason in generating knowledge? What is the relationship between knowledge and certainty? How does knowledge change when we conceptualize the world differently? What is the nature of truth? What is the nature of meaning? What is the nature of experience?

2 Metaphysics Originally, this was the title for all the books that came after the Physics in the philosopher Aristotle s writing (384BC-322BC.) Today: Metaphysics is any enquiry that raises questions about reality that lie beyond or behind those capable of being tackled by the methods of science. An old argument: Are there any such questions? (This questions refers to the perspective of the philosopher David Hume , who believed there were not any such questions.) Does metaphysics provide the answer to all questions not answerable by the basic sciences? Or does it attempt to answer the questions left over by them?

3 Thomas Kuhn Author of The Structure of Scientific Revolutions ( ) Paradigm shifts. The story we tell about things or ourselves changes. The heliocentric v. geocentric universe. Cover of a biography of Thomas Kuhn.

4 Richard Rorty (1931- ) From Wikipedia: Reception and criticism Because of the clarity and humor of his writing style, and his ability to undermine cherished assumptions, Rorty is one of the most widely-read contemporary philosophers. His political and moral philosophies have been under almost constant attack both from some on the Right, who call them relativist and irresponsible, and some on the Left, who believe them to be insufficient frameworks for social justice. The most common criticism is that Rorty's work is self-refuting (see Nagel and Nozick for instance), although such criticisms often play directly into Rorty's theories about arguing within versus arguing outside of a given 'language-game'.

5 Find the following definitions in Solidarity as Objectivity: 1. What is a realist? 2. What is a pragmatist? 3. What is a relativist? 4. What is a God s eye view??

6 Key questions to consider from the readings:? 1. What is truth as solidarity? 2. Why does the scientist replace the priest? 3. How do we cease to see the scientist as a priest, but instead as a moral exemplar? The answer to this question has bearing on how we think of the creators of tests and analyzers of school performance. 4. Why does he argue that the only virtue of scientists is moral virtue, not the virtue of rationality?

7 Common notions of the nature of truth Two descriptions using metaphors: The building The boat

8 The Building Metaphor Descartes ( ) (1984, vol. 2, p. 366) uses this metaphor: Throughout my writings I have made it clear that my method imitates that of the architect. When an architect wants to build a house which is stable on ground where there is a sandy topsoil over underlying rock, or clay, or some other firm base, he begins by digging out a set of trenches from which he removes the sand, and anything resting on or mixed in with the sand, so that he can lay his foundations on firm soil. In the same way, I began by taking everything that was doubtful and throwing it out, like sand; and then, when I noticed that it is impossible to doubt that a doubting or thinking substance exists, I took this as the bedrock on which I could lay the foundations of my philosophy. Descartes, R Philosophical Writings of Descartes (J. Cottingham & R. Stoothof & D. Murdoch, Trans.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

9 The Boat Metaphor In the 1930s, Otto Neurath ( ) (1959, p. 201) wrote: No tabula rasa exists. We are like sailors who must rebuild their ship on the open sea, never able to dismantle it in dry-dock and to reconstruct it there out of the best materials. Only the metaphysical elements can be allowed to vanish without trace. Vague linguist conglomerations always remain in one way or another as components of the ship. Quine ( ) (1960, pp. 3-4) popularized the metaphor: "Neurath has likened science to a boat which, if we are to rebuild it, we must rebuild plank by plank while staying afloat in it. The philosopher and the scientist are in the same boat. Our boat stays afloat because at each alteration we keep the bulk of it intact as a going concern." Neurath, O "Protocol Sentences." In Logical Positivism, edited by A. J. Ayer, pp Glencoe, IL: The Free Press. Quine, W. V. O Word and Object. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

10

11 What, according to Rorty, is the difference between: Solidarity and Objectivity?? (And, why does it matter to us?)

12 Solidarity Stories about people Objectivity Stories about non-human reality

13 Solidarity Objectivity Pragmatists The struggle to shift from objectivity to solidarity (democracy) Realists The search for absolute, non-human truth

14 Solidarity Objectivity Human nature is, in part, socially constructed over time Solidarity is sought regarding ahistorical human nature

15 Solidarity Objectivity t ruth as what it is good for us to believe (somebody may come up with a better idea) T ruth as correspondence to reality

16 Solidarity Objectivity Easy agreement: We call this knowledge Think of a unanimous jury decision Forced agreement is allowed Think inquisition, or Galileo under house arrest

17 Solidarity Objectivity When it is difficult to agree: We call this opinion Think, perhaps, of a hung jury It s just an opinion. Who cares? Think Nathan Price in the Congo.

18 ? Solidarity Stories about people Pragmatist: The struggle to shift from objectivity to solidarity (democracy) Human nature is, in part, socially constructed over time t ruth: what it is good for us to believe (somebody may come up with a better idea) Easy agreement: We call this knowledge Difficult to agree: We call this opinion Objectivity Stories about non-human reality Realists: The search for absolute, non-human truth Absolute knowledge regarding ahistorical human nature T ruth as correspondence to reality Forced agreement is allowed If it s opinion, perhaps disregard it

19 Key questions to consider from the readings: 1. What is truth as solidarity? 2. Why does the scientist replace the priest? How do we cease to see the scientist as a priest, but instead as a moral exemplar? The answers to this question have bearing on how we think of the creators of tests and the analyzers of school performance. Why does he argue that the only virtue of scientists is moral virtue, not the virtue of rationality?

20 Key questions to consider from the readings: 1. What is truth as solidarity? 2. Why does the scientist replace the priest? How do we cease to see the scientist as a priest, but instead as a moral exemplar? The answers to this question have bearing on how we think of the creators of tests and the analyzers of school performance. Why does he argue that the only virtue of scientists is moral virtue, not the virtue of rationality?

21 Use what you ve learned in FDN 5840: What might it look like to achieve solidarity around a difficult issue at your school? The AP Language Arts class and the drama class have teamed up to produce the play The Laramie Project. You ve been busy, but generally felt this was a good idea. Then the ads for the production appear, and you find yourself in the middle of a media circus. What do you do? Even more importantly, how do you decide what to do?

22 Adrian Arambulo, Reporter Church Group Protests 'The Laramie Project' (May 6) -- Students and staff at Las Vegas Academy are responding to flyers being distributed by a church group that says everyone associated with the school will "go to hell." The Kansas-based church is upset because they say the school is performing a play that promotes homosexuality. Eyewitness News spoke to an actor in the play and the school's principal. "It's basically about hatred and not to hate," said Leland Smith. Leland is a student and actor in the Las Vegas Academy's production of The Laramie Project. Leland Smith: "I feel bad for them. That's their ignorance, not really knowing about our school." Leland feels bad for members of the Westboro Baptist Church -- a group that's passing out flyers protesting the performance of the play. The flyer says everyone associated with Las Vegas Academy and the Laramie Project will eventually join Matt Shepard in hell. The play is based on Shepard -- a gay man who was beaten to death five years ago in Laramie, Wyoming. Leland Smith, student actor in the play The flyer from Westboro Baptist Church berates and insults the students and staff of Las Vegas Academy: "God hates Las Vegas Academy, the school board and all responsible for leading the kids to lives of sin, shame, and death in inculcating them that it's okay to be gay!" The church-goers plan on staging a protest at the school next Wednesday. They say the school is performing a play that promotes homosexuality propoganda. The letter says the school is wrong for performing a play about Matthew Shepard. Leaving this teen questioning -- Ryan Boylan: "How could they be so ignorant?" Patrick Boylan: "First thing I thought was God, this is religious terrorism." Patrick Boylan is Ryan's father, but he is also a member of the Nevada Board of Education: "Sure, they have a right to do what they want on public streets and all that stuff. It just doesn't seem right to scare the children." Voice of Shirley Phelps-Roper: "Those children don't have any fear of God. What's to be imitated. They think they're infallible and invincible." Stephen Clark, Las Vegas Academy: "One thing I'm communicating across to them is, 'I don't want to validate what they're doing.'" Stephen Clark is the school's principal and he's been fielding calls from parents and counseling students. "Some of the values we hold dear -- integrity, compassion, respect," he said. Clark is asking students and parents to stick to what they're doing and ignore the protestors when they arrive next Wednesday. Principal Stephen Clark: "Of course I'll have all my administrative staff, my support staff, we'll have teachers

23