Understanding Reason, Knowledge, and Truth in Philosophy
Reason and Its Applications
Reason is the faculty used to explain, argue, and justify something within a given environment. We can distinguish between two types of reason:
- Theoretical Reason: This type is directed towards the contemplation of the world, that is, towards the knowledge of reality.
- Practical Reason: According to Immanuel Kant, practical reason is the reason that guides action and imposes itself on passions, orienting us towards achieving a perfect moral right to set itself.
Philosophical Practice
The use of theoretical reason must try to know the truth and reality with the highest possible accuracy. The theory of knowledge deals with the various elements and clarifies issues surrounding knowing and the purpose pursued (metaphysical knowledge).
Metaphysical Knowledge
Metaphysics deals with reality, attempting to understand it in its entirety. It aims to go beyond scientific explanations. The pursuit of ultimate answers is one of its basic characteristics, trying to reach the final questions in a way that one cannot keep wondering further. It seeks to tackle the study from a universal perspective, exploring what things have in common and what they are. It experiences, interprets, and gives reasons for what happens and what exists. Its claim is to orient itself in the world.
Understanding Knowledge
Knowing is an activity that has as its goal the apprehension of a state of things so that it can be shared. We distinguish two poles:
- The subject (protagonist of the action)
- The object (that on which this action rests)
What we know is linked to the search for truth, and knowledge refers mainly to finding the truth.
Distinguishing Between Opinion, Belief, and Knowledge
Opinion is a state in which the subject considers something as true but is not entirely sure.
- Objective Opinion: It has a justification that can be communicated to others so they have to accept it. Justification validates when any human can accept that consideration.
- Subjective Opinion: We do not dare say that we know this, usually expressed by saying, “I think that…”
Belief: When someone is convinced of something, they may think they cannot claim a true justification that is acceptable to all.
Knowledge: This is an opinion based as objectively as subjectively. To know something means you can give reasons for it to others.
Interests of Knowledge
We want to solve problems and increase our well-being. Several interests drive knowledge:
- Theoretical Interest: To achieve perfectly logical knowledge. This gives rise to knowledge about nature.
- Study Interest: To discover what we should do and what can be expected if we act.
- Technical Interest: Exploring and mastering nature. This serves as a guide for empirical-analytical sciences such as physics and biology.
- Practical Interest: Communication-oriented and understanding among beings able to communicate.
- Liberating Interest: To free humans from domination and repression. This leads to critical social sciences.
Possibilities of Knowledge
There are six types of approaches to the possibilities of knowledge:
- Dogmatism: The attitude of those who are naively sure they know.
- Skepticism: It seems impossible to acquire reliable knowledge.
- Subjectivism and Relativism: Deny the possibility of acquiring universally valid truths.
- Pragmatism: It identifies the true with what is helpful.
- Criticism: Represents the intermediate position between dogmatism and skepticism.
- Perspectivism: Maintains that knowledge of reality can be reached by combining different perspectives.
Explanatory Modes of Knowledge: Realism vs. Idealism
Realism defines that reality exists in itself, regardless of the subject. We can know things as they are.
Idealism stresses that reality does not exist independently of the subject who knows. In the process of knowing, the subject has special relevance. To learn about this, we can look at thinkers like Descartes.
Phenomenology and Hermeneutics
Phenomenology: Goes to the things themselves, that is, pretending to know what things are directly in presenting consciousness to the subject. It gives priority to consciousness, similar to realism.
Hermeneutics: Seeks to understand human actions by interpreting each event without capturing its meaning. We start with prejudices, judgments acquired through education, culture, etc. Hermeneutics believes that these are constituents of knowledge.