The desire to acquire knowledge has always been considered one of the important qualities necessary for the development of the individual . Therefore, the foundations of epistemology - the direction of philosophy immersed in the process of cognition - were laid down in antiquity. Therefore, its exact age is called problematic.
What is gnoseology?
To get a general idea of this section, one can understand the origin of the term itself. It is formed from two Greek concepts: gnoseo - "know" and logos - "word, speech." It turns out that epistemology is the science of cognition, that is, it is interested in the ways in which a person receives information, the way from ignorance to enlightenment, the sources of pure knowledge and in application to the moments studied.
Epistemology in Philosophy
Initially, the study of obtaining data as a phenomenon was part of philosophical research, later becoming a separate unit. Gnoseology in philosophy is a department that studies the boundaries of personal cognition. It has been accompanying the main branch since its inception. As soon as people discovered a new kind of spiritual work, there were doubts about the confirmation of the authenticity of the received knowledge, the contrast of surface data and deep meaning began.
The theory of epistemology was not formed immediately, it is possible to trace its clear outlines in ancient philosophy. Then there appeared forms and types of cognition, an analysis of the evidence of knowledge was carried out and the questions of acquiring true knowledge, which became the beginning of skepticism - a separate course of discipline, were considered. In the Middle Ages, in connection with the acquisition of a religious outlook by the worldview, epistemology began to oppose the powers of the mind to divine revelations. Due to the complexity of the task during this period, the discipline has progressed significantly.
On the laid foundation in the New time, there are noticeable changes in philosophy, which put forward the problem of cognition. A classical type of science is being created, which in 1832 will be called epistemology. Such a breakthrough was possible because of the person's reconsideration of his place in the world, he ceases to be a toy in the hands of the higher forces, acquires his will and responsibility.
Problems of epistemology
A rich history of discipline and a variety of schools open up to it a number of questions that require an answer. The main problems of epistemology, common to all directions, are as follows.
- Causes of cognition . It means finding out the prerequisites for finding explanations of what is happening. It is believed that they consist in the need to anticipate future events with a high complexity of the system, without this the answer to new tasks will be constantly delayed.
- Conditions for obtaining knowledge . They include three components: nature, man, and the form of the representation of reality in recognition.
- Search for the source of knowledge . Epistemology examines this point with the help of a number of problems that must provide an idea of the initial information carrier, the object of cognition.
Epistemology - Species
In the course of improving philosophical thought, the following main trends in epistemology were distinguished.
- Naive realism . The yardstick of truth is the sense organs, there is no difference between human perception and the real state of things here.
- Sensualism . Implies knowledge only on the basis of the senses, if they are not there, then the information in the mind does not appear, because the person rests only on the senses, and beyond them the world does not exist.
- Rationalism . Real knowledge can only be obtained with the help of the mind without taking into account the data transmitted by the senses , which invariably distort reality.
- Skepticism . He doubts at every point of knowledge, demands not to agree with the opinion of authorities, until his own assessment is made.
- Agnosticism . He speaks of the impossibility of fully understanding the world - both feelings and mind give only pieces of knowledge that are not enough to get the full picture.
- Cognitive optimism . He believes in the possibility of obtaining an exhaustive knowledge of the world.
Modern epistemology
Science can not be static, being influenced in the process of development by the influence of other disciplines. At the current stage, the main directions of epistemology are cognitive optimism, skepticism and agnosticism, which are considered at the intersection of a number of disciplines. In addition to philosophy, psychology, methodology, informatics, the history of science and logic are included here. It is assumed that such a synthesis of approaches will help to understand the problem more deeply, avoiding a superficial study.
Epistemology: books
- S.A. Askoldov, "Epistemology. Articles » . The principles of epistemology, corresponding to the concept of panpsychism proposed by AA Kozlov, are outlined. The author of the articles continues its development.
- M. Polani, "Personal Knowledge" . It is devoted to the study of the nature of knowledge in terms of the synthesis of philosophy and the psychology of cognition.
- L.A. Mikeshina, "The philosophy of knowledge. Polemical chapters . " Describes issues that are left to the back burner or controversial.