Knowledges Beginning: A pretty good place to start

Discuss any topics related to metaphysics (the philosophical study of the principles of reality) or epistemology (the philosophical study of knowledge) in this forum.
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Loki Morningstar
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Knowledges Beginning: A pretty good place to start

Post by Loki Morningstar »

What is the beginning of Knowledge?

1. Descartes: "I doubt my existence, therefore I think, therefore something that is thinking/doubting exists". Difficult to argue.

2. Descartes brings us the brain the the jar thought experiment, in demon form. Again difficult to argue.

3. Should this be the foundation/beginning of epistemology? Is there a better place to start?

4. Does one that states they know material exists build on a priori/foundation?
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Re: Knowledges Beginning: A pretty good place to start

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Loki Morningstar wrote: 2. Descartes brings us the brain the the jar thought experiment, in demon form. Again difficult to argue.

3. Should this be the foundation/beginning of epistemology? Is there a better place to start?

4. Does one that states they know material exists build on a priori/foundation?
What is 2.? the brain in the jar thought experiment.I haven't heard of it. If it's not too difficult, please write it here in your own words. I generally don't click and follow in-line links.

What is "epistemology"? whatever it is, why does it need to be started? It does not exist in rest state?

One that states material exists believes his senses and his self's interpretation of the impulses of his senses. One that states he knows material exists, uses "to know" in a way which is not the dictionary definition. In fact, I don't even know why "to know" is in the dictionary in the first place. Truthfully, it never comes up that the word would have a practical application.

Consider this parable:
A man is an avid swimmer. His friend is also. They are both males.

One friend needs to show a relationship in his line of argument, which involves submerging himself under water, in an upside-down position, and then come up to air. His friend, who has been debating with him, tangles the other friend's legs, and holds him underwater thus, until he drowns and dies. Completely.

Which of the two won the argument?

Which one drowned and died?
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Loki Morningstar
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Re: Knowledges Beginning: A pretty good place to start

Post by Loki Morningstar »

Brain in the jar:

How can one know that one is not a brain in a jar with an extremely intelligent scientist reading and stimulating ones nerves to create the illusion of reality? Or, how can one know that one is not in a extremely realistic virtual reality?

The way Descartes put it I believe was, how can one know one is not being tricked into believeing an elaborate illusion created by a demon.

I feel that the ultility of the brain in the jar is that it reiterates and affirms point 1 (from the original post). And seems to make clear that point 1 is all we can truly 'know'.
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Re: Knowledges Beginning: A pretty good place to start

Post by Ranvier »

Before one dives into the depth of knowledge, it would be pertinent to discuss the concept of "time" at length, as well as the concept of "reality" and material existence. Perhaps even the difference between "being" and "existence". I myself prefer concise expressions of thought, absent of tangent deliberation unless necessary.

I would assert that one may deduce "being" through presence of consciousness and ability to hold a belief about yesterday's "existence" in observation of the cause and effect to emergent present with predictive foresight of the future outcome...short and sweet

Virtual reality may be the "reality" for animals without the primary awareness of self, where reality appears spontaneously in such perception. However, with human mind's capacity for multiple awareness of other "beings" in virtual existence of time, negates presupposed outside control.
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Re: Knowledges Beginning: A pretty good place to start

Post by -1- »

Yeah, I wrote a book about that, the brain in the jar. And connected it to one fantastic explanation of a pulsating known universe, and why and how it happens.

The book was titled "Out of the Clear Black". It was a huge financial, and complete popular failure. The critics did not even know the book was published and it existed.

This is the sweet thing, when you run under the radar. No harsh criticism. I couldn't take that.
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Re: Knowledges Beginning: A pretty good place to start

Post by Ranvier »

Wow, good to know -1-. I'll look it up :)
No harsh criticism from me...
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