The epistemological significance of reflective access
This thesis is, in part, a defence of a broad-based approach to epistemology. We should be wary of taking too narrow a focus and thus neglecting important aspects of knowledge. If we are too focused on one methodology then we are likely to miss insights that can come about from a different perspective. With this in mind, I investigate two particular methodologies in detail: Kornblithâs naturalism and Craigâs âgenealogicalâ approach. Kornblith emphasises the importance of looking at knowledge in the context of the natural world, thus stressing the continuity between animal and human knowledge. Craig, on the other hand, focuses on a distinctly human aspect of knowledge: the importance of enquiry and the sharing of information. As such, the two theories of knowledge that are developed have different emphases. I argue that by bringing them together we can better understand what knowledge is. This leads us to the other main contribution of this thesis, which is a defence of the role of reflection in epistemology. This has often been neglected in contemporary epistemology, primarily because of the effectiveness of externalist theories of knowledge. The focus on externalism has lead to reflection being sidelined.
Hanson, Charlotte Emily
Knowledge, Theory of ; Critical thinking
The epistemological significance of reflective access. This thesis is, in part, a defence of a broad-based approach to epistemology. We should be wary of taking too narrow a focus and thus neglecting important aspects of knowledge. If we are too focused on one methodology then we are likely to miss insights that can come about from a different perspective. With this in mind, I investigate two particular methodologies in detail: Kornblithâs naturalism and Craigâs âgenealogicalâ approach. Kornblith emphasises the importance of looking at knowledge in the context of the natural world, thus stressing the continuity between animal and human knowledge. Craig, on the other hand, focuses on a distinctly human aspect of knowledge: the importance of enquiry and the sharing of information. As such, the two theories of knowledge that are developed have different emphases. I argue that by bringing them together we can better understand what knowledge is. This leads us to the other main contribution of this thesis, which is a defence of the role of reflection in epistemology. This has often been neglected in contemporary epistemology, primarily because of the effectiveness of externalist theories of knowledge. The focus on externalism has lead to reflection being sidelined.
epistemological significance reflective access part defence broad based epistemology take narrow_focus thus neglect important_aspect knowledge focus_one likely miss insight come different_perspective mind investigate particular methodology detail naturalism genealogical approach emphasise_importance look knowledge context natural_world thus stress continuity animal_human knowledge hand focus distinctly human aspect knowledge importance enquiry share information theory_knowledge develop different emphasis argue bring_together good knowledge lead main defence role reflection epistemology often_neglected contemporary epistemology primarily effectiveness externalist theory_knowledge focus externalism lead reflection sideline