Unknown – Julius Corbin 1987.
Logic, Epistemology and Theory of Mind – ABC Exercise
Problem of the criterion
(source, List of Philosophical Problems – Wikipedia / solution, ABC – the Alphabet of Knowledge).
What is the meaning of, justified true belief? Is knowledge, justified true belief?
The problem of the criterion challenges the traditional definition of knowledge as justified true belief. It questions how one can determine if a justification is sound without relying on further justification, potentially leading to an infinite regress. This issue has been a subject of significant debate in epistemology.
One perspective, often associated with skepticism, concludes that true knowledge might be impossible due to this infinite regression. However, many philosophers find this conclusion too extreme for practical epistemology.
Several alternative approaches have been proposed: Foundationalism, which posits certain basic beliefs as self-justifying, thus halting the regress. Coherentism, which argues that beliefs are justified by their coherence with other beliefs. Susan Haack’s foundherentism is a notable hybrid approach. Infinitism, proposed by Peter D. Klein, which views the infinite regress as unproblematic. Reliabilism developed by philosophers like Alvin Goldman, which suggests that beliefs can be justified if they are produced by reliable cognitive processes, potentially avoiding the need for infinite justification.
In practice, many philosophers find that there is often a discernible line between sufficient justification and excessive inquiry, allowing for practical epistemological investigations despite the theoretical challenges posed by the problem of the criterion. The debate surrounding this problem remains active, with various approaches offering different insights into the nature of knowledge and justification.
As mentioned, in previous posts with regard to Theory of Mind and specifically to the mind – body problem, in human neurology, the central nervous system and especially the brain, organises and programs the physical bodily functions of the human organism. The brain specifically controls motion through sensory / motor biochemical, biological, neurological and kinetic interchanges, interactions and reproductions. Furthermore in biological evolution (life) and specifically in human evolution, intelligence developed from the control of the (3-dimensional) motion of the free hands. In order to project and program the motion of the hands in the time (in the space-time dimension), human intelligence developed complex mental functions like reflective logical / rational, memory, thought and imagination and reflexive psychological / emotional, instinctive intuition, attraction (love) and repulsion (fear).
With regard to cognition, therefore knowledge, this is drawn theoretically and practically from motion and derivative, information, definition, dimension and mass. Motion is driven by the dynamics of energy, this meaning, variation and limitation. The main feature of motion (and of the dynamics of energy, is the interchange between the quantum (approximate) and the physical (accurate), states of energy.
- In high density and low energy (physical) states, definition is high.
- In low density and high energy (quantum) states, definition is low.
Since human mentality and cognition develop from the control of motion, it follows therefore that information, description, definition and communication, develop from variations which are configure into states,
- fluid and uncertain, extended in wave fluctuations), which are relational and interactive and in
- fixed and certain, contracted in particle circulations and cyclicalities) states, of material (structured) mass, which are organisational and recurring, replicating and reproductive
In the Alphabet of Knowledge – ABC, (theory of) knowledge and Epistemology follow, truth. More specifically,
In objective metaphysics, true is that (motor reaction) which produces (d) an effect (sensory action) and that (interaction) which if repeated (replicated), will produce again (reproduce) that effect. In this sense therefore, true is that which repeats (replicates) itself.
In subjective epistemology, right is that (motor reaction) which produces a pre-meditated (intended and/or desired) effect (sensory action) and that (interaction) which if repeated (replicated), will produce again (reproduce) that pre-meditated (intended and/or desired) effect.
The above is fundamental in the main sources of conception, cognition and knowledge of information and is used extensively in communication. This is manifested in the sources principles and practices of knowledge, namely, experience and education by experimentation in research, which is interactive and learning in study and development, which is reproductive.
Memory is the competent mental function which is developed from replication, repetition and reproduction of relational interaction and information to organisational reproduction for communication and knowledge. Linguistic programming is typical example of this function.
The philosophical problem of the criterion, therefore, the meaning of truth, the justification of true belief and the definition and qualification of knowledge, all these are solved in the context of the aforesaid biological and neurological interactive and reproductive mental (logical and psychlogical) functions of human intelligence, and more specifically in the interchanges of the sensory – motor interactions and reproductions.
The criterion therefore is mathematic of high (precise) and low (probable) definition of information and the derivative programming of motion in the dimension of space time.
The issue of infinity is practical rather than theoretical. Infitity relates to technological and economic, therefore to functional and systematic, rather than structural and formative, attributes of the organisation of information and specifically of motion and particularly of interaction.
Infinity therefore relates to the efficacy and efficiency of operation in the systematic organisation of information – the program, which determines the variation of the level of certainty and uncertainty in the organisational replication and reproduction of relational interaction and its development to functional condition. Fidelity which refers to belief, develops from the derivative, functional projection, which is mentally compounded. Infinity also relates to definition and approximation, variation and elevation. Finally infinity like motion and information and everything else is evidently approximate, dynamic and kinetic not static. Motion even linear is variable and quantum according to velocity, acceleration and momentum.
Similar solutions are offered for comparison, in related problems in epistemology, like the induction problem and minor, like Gettier and Molyneux problems and the Munchhausen trilemma.
