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Epistemology: The Study of Knowledge

The Structure of Knowledge

KNOWLEDGE IS A CENTRAL CONCEPT IN EPISTEMOLOGY, THE BRANCH OF PHILOSOPHY CONCERNED WITH HOW WE KNOW WHAT WE KNOW. UNDERSTANDING KNOWLEDGE INVOLVES DISTINGUISHING DIFFERENT TYPES.

1

Types of Knowledge

Acquaintance, Ability (Know-How), and Propositional (Know-That).
2

The Tripartite View

The classical definition: Justified True Belief (JTB).
3

Gettier Problem

Challenges to the sufficiency of the JTB definition.

Three Kinds of Knowledge

PHILOSOPHERS TYPICALLY DISTINGUISH THREE MAIN KINDS OF KNOWLEDGE based on the way they are acquired or expressed.

I

Acquaintance Knowledge

KNOWLEDGE BY DIRECT EXPERIENCE (e.g., KNOWING A PERSON, PLACE, OR SENSATION).
II

Ability Knowledge

PROCEDURAL KNOWLEDGE OR SKILLS (e.g., RIDING A BIKE, PLAYING CHESS).
III

Propositional Knowledge

KNOWLEDGE OF FACTS OR TRUTHS, expressed in DECLARATIVE SENTENCES.

Key Terms in Defining Knowledge

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Epistemology

Branch of philosophy concerned with HOW WE KNOW WHAT WE KNOW.
💡

Belief

An active MENTAL STANCE OF ACCEPTANCE toward the proposition.
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Justification

Having GOOD REASON OR EVIDENCE supporting the belief.
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Tripartite View

The classical definition: Knowledge is JUSTIFIED TRUE BELIEF (JTB).

The Definition of Propositional Knowledge

S knows that P ⇔ S Believes P + P is True + S is Justified in Believing P
This definition dominated philosophical debate for centuries, viewing all three conditions as individually necessary and jointly sufficient.

The Gettier Counterexample

Challenging Sufficiency

GETTIER INTRODUCED SIMPLE SCENARIOS IN WHICH SOMEONE HOLDS A BELIEF THAT IS TRUE AND JUSTIFIED, BUT THEIR JUSTIFICATION IS BASED ON FLAWED OR INCOMPLETE EVIDENCE that leads to true belief by LUCK RATHER THAN KNOWLEDGE. These cases show the Tripartite View’s conditions, although necessary, are NOT JOINTLY SUFFICIENT.

The Definition Challenge

🤔
Wait, why is defining knowledge so hard? Don't we just list all its parts?
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A definition must be both NECESSARY (all components must be present) AND SUFFICIENT (if all components are present, we have knowledge). Getting sufficiency right is the tricky part!

Modifying Justification (Post-Gettier)

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Strengthening JustificationSTRENGTHEN THE JUSTIFICATION CONDITION (INFALLIBILISM): make it so strong that it guarantees the truth, eliminating lucky true beliefs.
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Alternative RequirementADD A ‘NO FALSE LEMMAS’ CONDITION (JTB + N): The belief must not be inferred from any FALSE PREMISE OR ASSUMPTION.

Alternative Epistemological Theories

The failure of JTB to address luck led to new ways of analyzing propositional knowledge:

1

Reliabilism

REPLACE ‘JUSTIFIED’ with ‘RELIABLY FORMED’. Knowledge is a true belief produced by a reliable cognitive process.
2

Virtue Epistemology

KNOWLEDGE ARISES WHEN A TRUE BELIEF RESULTS FROM THE EXERCISE OF INTELLECTUAL VIRTUES.

Virtue Epistemology Focus

💡

Linda Zagzebski’s View: Knowledge is a kind of INTELLECTUAL VIRTUE. Being a good thinker or knower is central to defining knowledge, moving beyond mere truth and justification.

JTB Condition Requirements

Evaluation of the necessity and role of the three classical conditions for propositional knowledge.

Condition Requirement Status Role in JTB
Belief Mental Stance toward P. Necessary Cognitive prerequisite.
Truth P must align with reality. Necessary Factual prerequisite.
Justification Evidence/Reasons for P. Necessary Epistemic support.
JTB (Jointly) All three components present. Insufficient Fails in Gettier cases.
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Knowledge in Epistemology Deck
Term
Epistemology

What is epistemology?

Answer
Definition

The branch of philosophy concerned with how we know what we know.

Term
Types of Knowledge

Name the three main types of knowledge.

Answer
Types

Acquaintance knowledge, ability knowledge, propositional knowledge.

Term
Acquaintance Knowledge

What is acquaintance knowledge?

Answer
Definition

Knowledge by direct experience or immediate awareness.

Term
Ability Knowledge

Define ability knowledge (know-how).

Answer
Definition

Procedural knowledge or skills, knowing how to do something.

Term
Propositional Knowledge

What is propositional knowledge?

Answer
Definition

Knowledge of facts or truths expressed in declarative sentences.

Term
Formulation of Propositional Knowledge

How is propositional knowledge often formulated?

Answer
Form

As “S knows that P,” where S is the subject and P is a proposition.

Term
Classical Tripartite Definition

What is the classical tripartite definition of knowledge?

Answer
Definition

Justified True Belief (JTB): belief in P, P is true, and justification for believing P.

Term
Belief in Knowledge

Why is belief necessary for knowledge?

Answer
Explanation

Because knowledge requires an active mental acceptance of the proposition.

Term
Truth in Knowledge

What role does truth play in knowledge?

Answer
Explanation

The proposition believed must be true for it to count as knowledge.

Term
Justification in Knowledge

What is justification in the tripartite view?

Answer
Explanation

Having good grounds or evidence to support the belief.

Term
Gettier Cases

What are Gettier cases?

Answer
Explanation

Scenarios where justified true belief occurs without knowledge due to luck.

Term
Linda Zagzebski

What does Linda Zagzebski contribute to epistemology?

Answer
Contribution

Argued knowledge is an intellectual virtue beyond just truth and justification.

Term
Reliabilism

How does reliabilism define knowledge?

Answer
Definition

True belief produced by a reliable cognitive process.

Term
No False Lemmas Condition

What is the ‘no false lemmas’ condition?

Answer
Condition

Belief must not be inferred from any false premise.

Term
Virtue Epistemology

What does virtue epistemology emphasize?

Answer
Emphasis

That knowledge arises through intellectual virtues like careful reasoning.

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🌸 Epistemology Quiz

1. Which of the following best describes ability knowledge?

Ability knowledge is procedural or skill-based, like riding a bike.

2. According to the tripartite view, what three conditions must be met for propositional knowledge?

The classical definition requires all three for knowledge.

3. What problem do Gettier cases pose for the tripartite definition?

Gettier cases show that justified true belief can occur by luck, so JTB is not sufficient.

4. Which theory replaces ‘justification’ with the reliability of the cognitive process?

Reliabilism defines knowledge as true belief from reliable cognitive mechanisms.

5. Linda Zagzebski argues that knowledge is best understood as:

Zagzebski emphasizes knowledge as a kind of intellectual virtue beyond classical definitions.

📊 Results

  • Notes and Quiz
  • PHILOSOPHY
  • A Level
  • Epistemology
  • AQA