problems and nature of knowedge

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Learning Aims: By the end of the lesson you should be able to explain...external image Mercator-projection.jpg
  • The problems there are with our common sense mental map of the world
  • How we acquire knowledge and why they cannot give is certainty
  • Why it is important to balance scepticism with open-mindedness when making judgements
  • How evidence and coherence can be useful guides when determining whether a knowledge claim is reasonable

Main Resource


Activities


1. What are the limitations of our common sense understanding of things?
  • In what ways is the Mercator projection inaccurate? based on arbitrary conventions? culturally biased?
  • What do you think of the Hobo-Dyer Projection?
  • Is it possible to make a perfect map of a city?
  • What has influenced our common sense mental maps?

2. What are you certain about?
  • List in order the 5 things that you are most certain of. Compare your list with someone else's. Can you come to any agreement?
  • We would probably say that the statements below are true. How do you know? (which of the four ways of knowing - language, perception, reason and emotion - do you use?)
I know that Neil Armstrong landed on the moon in 1969
I know that strawberries are red
I know that is a is bigger than b and b is bigger than c, then a is bigger than c.
I know that murder is wrong
  • But, how can we be 100% certain that the above sentences are true?
  • Perception activity: Leprechauns
  • How can we even be sure we exist?
  • Could we be living in a world like The Matrix or the Truman Show?




  • What are the weaknesses of Relativism?
  • Read the dialougue taken from the novel Whiet Noise by Don DeLillo:
  • What doubts does Heinrich cast on his father's claim that it is raining?
  • Which, if any, of these doubts do you think are reasonable?

3. What should we believe?
  • The role of judgement
  • The danger of gullibility
  • The danger of scepticism

4. How can we determine of a knowledge claim is reasonable?
  • Evidence - positive evidence V argument ad ignorantium. Should we just look for evidence in favour of our beliefs?
  • Coherence: Does a belief fit in with our current understanding of things?

5. Does it really matter what we believe?
  • They define who you are as a person - you should subject them to critical scrutiny
  • Beliefs affect actions
  • Should we respect the beliefs of a racist or sexist person?

Resources:
Lesson 1 What is knowledge (1) CN.ppt