There are several topics that I like discussing, but I am immensely drawn to philosophy, especially epistemology. It is only recently that I figured knowledge actually means justified true belief. For a long time, I was under the impression that knowledge is any information that is gathered using our five senses of perception. But boy, I was so wrong.
I would like to give you an example so it makes more sense to you. After all, this is a topic that I like discussing, right? Let us consider a simple statement like “New Delhi is the capital of India.” In epistemology, the sentence would be termed a proposition. In order for me to know that New Delhi is the capital of India, I need to first believe in the proposition, for belief is a prerequisite for knowledge; now that I believe, the proposition needs to be true and I need to have valid justification (evidence or reason) for my belief. For instance, I could have read that New Delhi is the capital of India in a reputed encyclopaedia, and that could serve as evidence. Now that all the conditions are fulfilled (of course, it is true that New Delhi is the capital of India), I can claim that I know it to be the case.
There was a person named Edmund Gettier who challenged this idea and eventually became famous. According to him, one might believe that something is true, and it may indeed be true (for example, a clock showing time as 10:10); however, if the clock is not functioning, then the belief is not justified, although the person thinks he has a valid reason for believing in what he believes, that is, the time is 10:10. This came to be known as the Gettier Problem in epistemology and is widely discussed.
Another idea that I like discussing connected to epistemology is the idea of God. Most of us believe in God, but there is no way for us to tell whether the belief is actually true. Also, most of us are not able to justify our beliefs. Being born in a family that believes in a particular God cannot make the proposition “God exists” true.
There is a poem that I wish to write connected to this, and I would like to share that here. Let me know your thoughts.
You ask me to pray to God each day,
And when I ask you why you stay mum;
At times you say it’s my task to pray,
But why’s what I wish to know, dear mum.
Come, let’s grasp why we do what we do,
For we must not believe all that’s told;
May be you’d ask me why I say so,
For reason matters, firmly I hold.
Let’s think the right way from right on,
And let not false beliefs cloud our minds;
Who knows? Maybe others could well con
If we did trust all that’s said in kinds.
I leave you with a thought; my job’s done; Wishing you the best for all you’ll do. It’s time I bade adieu; thus, I run; Let’s talk tomorrow with one more cue.
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