How do I know what I know? We can’t really be 100% sure we
know anything for certain. But we believe that if there are certain “facts”
that a majority can agree on and that those facts are accepted as true, we
believe we know something. Math, for example, is probably the closest thing
that can be proven to be true. In math, we have proof. You can calculate
numbers to get an answer, and there will almost always only be just one answer
that will prove to be true and solve an equation (unless you start dealing with
things like imaginary numbers, which I don’t understand and frankly don’t
believe in). Let’s examine some simple math problems. 0+0=0. I know that to be
true. It is accepted by society that if you have nothing and gain nothing that
you will still have nothing, and it can be proven. I believe this to be true
because I can see that if I have nothing and continue to have nothing that in
the end, I will still have nothing. It can also be proven that if you have one
thing and gain another thing, you will have two things. People tend to have the
easiest time believing things they can see. Most people would say that if
something can be demonstrated, that is the closest form of absolute truth we
can get. Seeing is believing I guess. Can we be sure that what society accepts
as truth is true? Not necessarily. But if a society agrees that a certain fact
is true and if there is no proof against it, then it can be accepted and
believed without questioning.
I think you are completely right when saying something will be accepted and believed without questioning if an entire society holds it to be true. The problem with that is there will almost never be a society that is so completely unanimous. You mentioned people that say the closest form of truth is something that can be demonstrated. That made me think of the various ways of learning. Some people are visual learners while other learners are kinetic learners, meaning they learn best with a hands-on approach. We know what we know can be based off of how we learn. Some may say they know what they know because they saw it. Others may say it's because they experienced it. I guess it all depends on each individual person.
ReplyDelete