What Is Knowledge?

With Pragmatism and Feminist Epistemology in mind, the concept of knowledge seems much diverse than prior to being introduced to these theories. Before it seemed as if knowledge was being presented as something that is solely learned through experience, obtained through senses, and is not directly correlated with one's inner self. However, now it's as if knowledge is only essential if it directly correlates with one's self experiences rather than just being gained through those experiences.  Can knowledge be personable? Personally, it's quite challenging for me to decide on what knowledge actually is.

With all prior being taken into account, I will say that I can agree with all of the theories on knowledge discussed within the last few weeks. I believe different types of knowledge hold different paths to be followed. For instance, maybe certain academic knowledge can solely be taught. To me it seems like these knowledges can be obtained through one's experience and you aren't going to be aware of these "truths" until life presents you with the opportunity to learn them, most likely through the use of your senses. Despite this, I think there's invaluable knowledge or should I say truths to life that could be achieved through senses but just wouldn't be valuable until one is able to effectively apply it to their life. We won't know if expressing ourselves will get us the next date in the same way we won't know if putting our hand in a flame will burn ourselves until we actually do it. We can assume, but this knowledge doesn't matter until it is our saving grace. Or our sinking ship.

It's nearly impossible for me to detach knowledge from emotion, that we can't personally grow from within through heartache and issues. That lust, love, and pain can be learned through our emotional roller coasters and not directly learned about through a sense or a lesson. Especially with Feminist Epistemology in mind, it seems as if knowledge is just as attached to one as emotion and self identity rather than just an detached intellectual substance. 

Maybe it's up to the individual as to what classes of knowledge are important to them and which theories we've learned are the paths in which they obtain those truths.

Knowledge Based On Senses

Reflecting upon Empiricism, I begin to strongly connect with the notion that all of one's knowledge based on the use of senses. In order for one to receive any type of information which translates into knowledge, we have to have an experience that presents it to us. From valuable skills to simply studying about Empiricism, we as individuals have to use at least our sense of sight to inherit the information. For one to fully be aware of this knowledge, it must be fully experienced through their senses. 

The only issue I do have with my understanding of Empiricism is how it seems to claim that one cannot rightly discuss what he has yet to experience. To me this diminishes any idea of one's creativity or imagination. 

Methodological Skepticism

From my understanding, methodological skepticism is a process in which an individual rules out all possibilities through his own self doubt in order to reach certainty. Personally, this does make sense to me. In everyday life, I strive to rule out all possibilities in simple situations such as where I misplaced my iPhone to more extreme like how to handle an uncomfortable situation with a friend. We tend to assume the worst before arriving at the truth, which hopefully is the best. Therefore most all individuals unconsciously use this process. From childhood, we fall into traditions such as believing in Santa Clause or the Easter Bunny. As outlandish as these concepts are, we wholeheartedly believe in them until we find those hidden gifts under our parent's beds. It's not until we are given a reason to doubt that we finally realize the truth. However, as much as I would love to say that I am more self aware than aware of the world around me, I do believe that there is a balance between the two. Simply due to the fact that we live in a superficial society where it's easier to believe one's actions than one's words. Therefore we are almost always craving instant gratification. Sometimes there's isn't always time to rule out all possibilities and we doubt what we are presented with and stay true to what the world around us provides.

In conclusion, methodological skepticism is a good strategy that is applicable to one's everyday life. As true as it may be though, the world we live in doesn't always allow it to be the most suffice strategy to use.

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