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The concept of knowledge, its forms, sources, and acquisition process has been the subject of the theories of many philosophers. The specific branch of philosophy that focuses on studying knowledge is known as epistemology. Thus, this essay will explore some of the epistemology theories developed by Plato, Descartes, Hume, Kant, and James to define the differences and similarities between the theories and gain insight into the nature of knowledge.
Firstly, Plato’s theory of knowledge accepts the existence of beliefs and even connects them with knowledge, despite refusing to accept subjective knowledge as true knowledge. Thus, Plato accepts perception as a part of knowledge but emphasizes the role of reflection and rational thinking in recovering knowledge from perception. Plato’s perception of knowledge is apparent in his allegory of the cave, which questions the distinction between probable knowledge and true knowledge (Świercz 118). On the contrary, Rene Descartes’ theory of knowledge perceives all subjective knowledge and sense perception as false, emphasizing the meaning of the human mind’s existence. Descartes suggested that knowledge can only be attained through applying logical reasoning. Thus, a statement can only be perceived as true knowledge if there are no doubts about its’ certainty. Therefore, comparing the two theories explains the importance of considering subjective and objective components of knowledge.
Furthermore, David Hume’s theory of knowledge perceives knowledge as a mix of sense perception and matters of fact. Thus, Hume prioritized the synthesis between beliefs and facts as a source of knowledge. On the other hand, William James’ developed his theory of knowledge on the basis of beliefs, suggesting that truth is subjective, just as human behavior can be perceived as good or bad. Lastly, Immanuel Kant, in his studies, focused on exploring the limits and validity of knowledge. Thus, Kant suggested that synthetical judgments can provide a foundation for the system of absolute knowledge.
In conclusion, the essay defined that epistemology theories mostly concern the balance between beliefs and facts in true knowledge. While some philosophers, such as Descartes, refuse to accept beliefs and sensory perception as part of true knowledge, others, such as James, suggest that knowledge can be interpreted in different ways. Furthermore, in defining the balance, Plato perceived beliefs as a component of true knowledge, while Hum suggested that true knowledge is composed equally of beliefs and facts.
Work Cited
Świercz, Piotr. “The Allegory of the Cave and Plato’s Epistemology of Politics.” Folia Philosophica, vol. 42, no. 2, 2019, pp. 115-139.
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