Theory of ‘Justified True Belief’ and E. Gettier problem
The epistemology, or simply theory and concept of the knowledge, is one of the most important topics in philosophy. Different philosophers proposed different meanings and interpretations of knowledge. Plato introduced one of the most important philosophical works on knowledge ‘Theaetetus’. The ‘Theaetetus’ is a set-piece discussion of the question “What is knowledge?”(S. Chappell, 2013). In this dialogue, Theaetetus proposes three possible definitions of the knowledge, ‘knowledge as perception’, ‘knowledge as true belief’ and ‘knowledge as true belief with an account’. However, Socrates refutes all three propositions as single definition of knowledge. According to Socrates, knowledge …show more content…
The theory is quite simple and straightforward, however in 1963 famous American philosopher Edmund Gettier questioned this theory. In his work ‘Is justified true belief knowledge?’, philosopher argues that ‘justified true belief’ is necessary, but not a sufficient condition to define knowledge. According to E. Gettier, there are cases in which one could have justified true belief without knowledge (E. Gettier, 1963). To support his argument philosopher uses two counterexamples. First case is about two workers who applied for a job, one is Smith who has a strong belief that (d) Jones is the man who will get the job, and Jones has ten coins in his pocket (E. Gettier, 1963). Based on the observation of the situation, Smith claims “the man who will get the job has ten coins in his pocket” (E.Gettier, 1963). However, the employer decided that Smith is that one who gets the job. The main point is that, this proposition is actually relevant to JTB theory. Smith has a certain (i) belief and this (ii) belief is true, because it was based on some observations and (iii) those belief is justified, because Smith get employed and have a 10 coins in his pocket. E. Gettier questions, can we consider it as knowledge? “Most epistemologists have accepted Gettier's argument, taking it to show that the three conditions of the JTB account—truth, belief, and justification—are not in general sufficient for knowledge” (J. Ichikawa, Jonathan Jenkins and Steup, Matthias,
The epistemology, or simply theory and concept of the knowledge, is one of the most important topics in philosophy. Different philosophers proposed different meanings and interpretations of knowledge. Plato introduced one of the most important philosophical works on knowledge ‘Theaetetus’. The ‘Theaetetus’ is a set-piece discussion of the question “What is knowledge?”(S. Chappell, 2013). In this dialogue, Theaetetus proposes three possible definitions of the knowledge, ‘knowledge as perception’, ‘knowledge as true belief’ and ‘knowledge as true belief with an account’. However, Socrates refutes all three propositions as single definition of knowledge. According to Socrates, knowledge …show more content…
The theory is quite simple and straightforward, however in 1963 famous American philosopher Edmund Gettier questioned this theory. In his work ‘Is justified true belief knowledge?’, philosopher argues that ‘justified true belief’ is necessary, but not a sufficient condition to define knowledge. According to E. Gettier, there are cases in which one could have justified true belief without knowledge (E. Gettier, 1963). To support his argument philosopher uses two counterexamples. First case is about two workers who applied for a job, one is Smith who has a strong belief that (d) Jones is the man who will get the job, and Jones has ten coins in his pocket (E. Gettier, 1963). Based on the observation of the situation, Smith claims “the man who will get the job has ten coins in his pocket” (E.Gettier, 1963). However, the employer decided that Smith is that one who gets the job. The main point is that, this proposition is actually relevant to JTB theory. Smith has a certain (i) belief and this (ii) belief is true, because it was based on some observations and (iii) those belief is justified, because Smith get employed and have a 10 coins in his pocket. E. Gettier questions, can we consider it as knowledge? “Most epistemologists have accepted Gettier's argument, taking it to show that the three conditions of the JTB account—truth, belief, and justification—are not in general sufficient for knowledge” (J. Ichikawa, Jonathan Jenkins and Steup, Matthias,