All knowledge comes from somewhere. Even if it is innate (comes from within us) we still have to say how that knowledge appears. The Ways of Knowing are the methods through which knowledge becomes apparent to us. There are eight different ways of knowing: Language, Sense Perception, Emotion, Reason, Imagination, Faith, Intuition, and Memory. This essay will analyse two ways of knowing: Reason and Sense Perception.
One way of acquiring new knowledge about the world is by using reason. Most people would tell you that they are reasonable, but definitions of reason vary greatly amongst the general population. The ability to use logical deduction allows one to go from premises to reach valid conclusions. Reason is something that we use whenever …show more content…
This way of knowing relates to the way a person uses and understands their senses. It is the process by which organisms interpret and organise sensation to produce a meaningful experience of the world. Sense Perception is the world’s direct impact on a person’s mind. We as humans do this using the five senses: sight, sound, taste, touch and smell. Through the use of these senses, our brain sends and receives messages from the outside world. For example, if a plate is very hot and you touch it using your hand, your brain receives the message that it is hot. Traditionally, it has been thought that humans only have these five senses. However, as time passes more and more senses have been suggested. Some of these suggested senses include the sense of heat, sense of pain, of movement, of balance and of hunger and thirst. It has even been suggested that the sense of where our body parts are in space is a sense. For example, if one closes their eyes and tries to touch their forefingers together, most people will be successful or not far from it. However, only the sense of proprioception (where one’s body is in space) could have allowed someone to touch their forefingers together without any help from their other senses. Depending on the individual, the use of their senses can be different than others’ experiences, creating unreliability when it comes to Sense Perception. One of the biggest debates surrounding Sense Perception is …show more content…
Our senses can be deceived by what we hope or want to see. Therefore, what we claim to see or perceive to be true in the world is a function of our Sense Perception and our pre-established beliefs. Because of this, I believe that reason as a way of knowing is more reliable than Sense Perception. If they were to conflict in some way, I would trust my reasoning rather than my senses. This is because our senses can be tricked to see or hear (etc.) different things that are not necessarily true. Illusions, specifically optical illusions, are a great illustration of how the brain’s expectations can influence our sense experiences. The specific pattering in optical illusions can alter the things one sees that are often untrue. Furthermore, complete faith in perception in examples like the Placebo Effect deem it unreliable, as it is subject to change based on other aspects. Reason and Sense Perception are similar in the way that they both let you acquire information through experiences. However, Sense Perception is the individual’s own, unique experiences. Reason is universal, where facts can be applied and proved to be true all around the world, not solely on one individual’s experiences. Because of this, I believe that Reason as a way of knowing is more reliable than Sense
One way of acquiring new knowledge about the world is by using reason. Most people would tell you that they are reasonable, but definitions of reason vary greatly amongst the general population. The ability to use logical deduction allows one to go from premises to reach valid conclusions. Reason is something that we use whenever …show more content…
This way of knowing relates to the way a person uses and understands their senses. It is the process by which organisms interpret and organise sensation to produce a meaningful experience of the world. Sense Perception is the world’s direct impact on a person’s mind. We as humans do this using the five senses: sight, sound, taste, touch and smell. Through the use of these senses, our brain sends and receives messages from the outside world. For example, if a plate is very hot and you touch it using your hand, your brain receives the message that it is hot. Traditionally, it has been thought that humans only have these five senses. However, as time passes more and more senses have been suggested. Some of these suggested senses include the sense of heat, sense of pain, of movement, of balance and of hunger and thirst. It has even been suggested that the sense of where our body parts are in space is a sense. For example, if one closes their eyes and tries to touch their forefingers together, most people will be successful or not far from it. However, only the sense of proprioception (where one’s body is in space) could have allowed someone to touch their forefingers together without any help from their other senses. Depending on the individual, the use of their senses can be different than others’ experiences, creating unreliability when it comes to Sense Perception. One of the biggest debates surrounding Sense Perception is …show more content…
Our senses can be deceived by what we hope or want to see. Therefore, what we claim to see or perceive to be true in the world is a function of our Sense Perception and our pre-established beliefs. Because of this, I believe that reason as a way of knowing is more reliable than Sense Perception. If they were to conflict in some way, I would trust my reasoning rather than my senses. This is because our senses can be tricked to see or hear (etc.) different things that are not necessarily true. Illusions, specifically optical illusions, are a great illustration of how the brain’s expectations can influence our sense experiences. The specific pattering in optical illusions can alter the things one sees that are often untrue. Furthermore, complete faith in perception in examples like the Placebo Effect deem it unreliable, as it is subject to change based on other aspects. Reason and Sense Perception are similar in the way that they both let you acquire information through experiences. However, Sense Perception is the individual’s own, unique experiences. Reason is universal, where facts can be applied and proved to be true all around the world, not solely on one individual’s experiences. Because of this, I believe that Reason as a way of knowing is more reliable than Sense