Knowledge

By Victor M Fontane

It’s knowledge same as wisdom? It’s the core and

essence of human nature or just a construct of the mind in his journey to evolve and achieve the ability and skills to grab, recognize and understand the ultimate reality of all experiences and his own and real “I”?

Let’s read the thinkers:

Socrates, believed that true knowledge begins with admitting ignorance. He would say, “I know that I know nothing.” Through dialogue and questions, he believed we could get closer to the truth. 

Plato, a student of Socrates, believed that knowledge comes from the world of ideas and ideals. In The Republic, he used the example of a cave to explain how the physical world is simply a shadow of the real world that can be accessed through philosophical reasoning. 

Aristotle, a student of Plato, believed that knowledge came from sensory experience and observation. He believed that the human mind could understand the world by collecting and analyzing data. 

Descartes, the famous French philosopher, famously said, “I think, therefore I am.” He believed that thought and doubt were the basis of true knowledge. For him, reason is the basic tool to attain knowledge. 

Immanuel Kant, attempted to reconcile reason and experience. He believed that knowledge arises from the mind's interaction with the physical world and that we have limits to what we can know. He said that there are things that the human mind cannot fully understand, which are "the thing in itself." 

John Locke, the English philosopher, believed that the human mind generates a blank slate (tabula rasa) and that knowledge comes from sensory experience and interaction with the outside world. 

David Hume, doubted the possibility of attaining true, absolute knowledge. He believed that our knowledge is based on experience and habit, and that the mind cannot attain absolute certainty. 

What do you think?

Whether you believe that knowledge comes from reason or experience, understanding these views can open up new horizons in your thinking.