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Philosophy Lesson 6 - 7

This contains two topic, Doxa and Episteme and Questions of Truth abd Opinion...

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Vinz Naph Soriano
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37 views10 pages

Philosophy Lesson 6 - 7

This contains two topic, Doxa and Episteme and Questions of Truth abd Opinion...

Uploaded by

Vinz Naph Soriano
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Philosophy of the Human Person

Doxa and Episteme


"Opinion is not knowledge"
A. Ancient Roots
-Distinction Between Truth and Belief:
Truth vs. Opinion: Knowing the truth differs from merely believing something to be
true.
Philosophical Inquiry: Philosophers like Plato explored the distinction between
appearance and reality, emphasizing that what seems true may not be.

-Knowledge (Episteme) vs. Opinion (Doxa):


Epistemology: A branch of philosophy dedicated to the study of knowledge.
Beliefs and Opinions: While everyone holds beliefs, these do not require justification.
In contrast, claims of truth demand rational justification.

-Rational Justification:
Verification Required: Knowledge must withstand scrutiny and cannot rely on gut
feelings or hearsay.
Active Discovery: Humans are not passive recipients; they actively seek and unveil
truths.
Rene Descartes:
B. Modern Legacy
Father of Modern Philosophy: Introduced the concept of indubitability.
Key Work: Meditations on First Philosophy, explores the foundation of knowledge.

Method of Doubt:
Self-Reflection: Descartes recognized that many beliefs accepted as true were false or
uncertain.
Starting Anew: He proposed setting aside all previously held beliefs to establish a firm
knowledge base.

Distinguishing Knowledge:
Indubitable Statements: Only those ideas that are clear and distinct can serve as the
foundation for knowledge.
Example of Existence: Descartes famously concluded, "I think, therefore I am,"
highlighting that doubt itself confirms existence.

Criteria for Knowledge:


Clarity vs. Doubt: Knowledge consists of ideas that cannot be doubted, while opinions are
uncertain and can be questioned.
Rationalism: This approach emphasizes that knowledge must be certain and clear to
differentiate it from mere opinion.
C. Contemporary Period
Reaction Against Modernism:
Postmodernism: Challenges the philosophical views from the sixteenth to mid-twentieth centuries
concerning reality, truth, knowledge, human nature, and language.

Denial of Objective Reality:


Conceptual Construct: Postmodernists argue that objective reality is merely a construct, leading to
the assertion that there is no absolute "Truth."
Plurality of Truths: They propose that truths are subjective and particular, rejecting the idea of a
singular, universal truth.

Critique of Modern Emphasis:


Reason, Logic, and Science: These are criticized for producing knowledge that can be oppressive, as
truth is often dictated by those in power.
Social Determinism: Postmodernists claim that much of human nature is shaped by social constructs
rather than innate qualities.

Jacques Derrida and Deconstruction:


Challenge to Traditional Views: Derrida's deconstruction critiques the structures of language,
allowing for multiple interpretations.
Essence vs. Appearance: In contrast to Plato’s focus on essence as knowledge, Derrida posits that
non-essential elements form the basis of meaning.
Textual Criticism: His approach reveals the complexities of signifiers and encourages openness in
interpretation, moving away from authorial intent.
Shift in Power Dynamics:
Democratization of Knowledge: Knowledge is seen as accessible to all, not just a
privileged few, reflecting a desire for a more equitable society.

Concerns About Relativism:


Justification of Beliefs: The contemporary tendency to view beliefs as equally
valid without justification poses risks.
Danger of Relativism: The idea that "what is true for you may not be true for me"
undermines meaningful discussion and critical engagement.

Key Points of each part:

A. Episteme (knowledge) requires justification; Doxa (opinion) does not.


Philosophical inquiry helps distinguish between true knowledge and mere belief.
Both Plato and Aristotle emphasized reason as essential for discovering truth.

B. Descartes' method of doubt is essential for identifying true knowledge. Clear


and distinct ideas form the foundation of rational knowledge. Opinions lack clarity
and can be doubted, whereas knowledge is indubitable and certain.

C. Postmodernism rejects the notion of objective reality and absolute truth,


favoring subjective interpretations. Derrida's deconstruction challenges traditional
philosophical concepts and emphasizes the importance of language. The
contemporary period promotes a more democratic view of knowledge but raises
concerns about the implications of relativism on discourse and justification.
Philosophy of the Human Person

Questions of Truth
and Opinion
"What is truth?"
A. Correspondence Theory
One of the oldest models of truth. A statement is true
if it corresponds to reality. For instance, if someone
claims that "the Earth is the center of the solar system,"
the truth of this claim is determined by checking if it
aligns with reality.

Language: Some philosophers focused on how


language aligns with truth.
Truth-Maker: Others focused on what makes a
statement true.
B. Linguistic Turn
According to this principle, 'it is only in the context of a sentence that a
word has meaning' (Dummett, 1993). Language allows us to talk about
the same things and yet disagree because we can mean different
things.

The reference (or referent) pertains to what is referred to or the


denotation (also known as extension). The sense (meaning) of statements
can vary widely.

Wittgenstein, was led to a different theory. He introduced language-


games as an off-shoot of the claim that the meaning of language is to be
found in its use.

He recognized that aside from the usual meanings we attach to words,


there are various ways we use them in language such as figuratively or
metaphorically.( e.g words in gay language, jejemon, and 'selfie')
C. Phenomenology and Existentialism
Phenomenology claims that every 'consciousness is consciousness of
something, and you will have to get to many steps to get to the essence
of things. (phenomenology is trying to make us see every
phenomenon or object in a true and purified meaning.)

Objectivity means, as much as possible, to detach yourself from the


thing that you are observing.
Subjectivity means, that I create meaning for myself. The "I" creates
one for himself too.

Cognitive attitudes :
natural attitude, when we are comfortable with the things that we
already know.
transcendental attitude, when we try our best to direct our
consciousness to investigate the essence of every phenomenon.
C. Phenomenology and Existentialism
Existential phenomenology is designed to make us see
what every existing thing means to someone (individual in
his subjectivity) who experiences it by a thorough reflection
(as in phenomenology) and through awareness of his
experience of himself as an existing being in the world of
things (existentialism).

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