GNOSEOLOGY: WHAT IT STUDIES, CHARACTERISTICS AND PROBLEMS - PHILOSOPHY - 2025

The epistemology or theory of knowledge is a branch of philosophy that studies general knowledge. It contemplates the study of nature, as well as the origins of knowledge. Epistemology does not analyze only a specific area, but focuses on how man is capable of acquiring knowledge and the consequences of it.

According to the postulates of gnoseology, the human being uses a series of sources, als which bring him closer to reality and truth. These sources are perception, representation, concept, judgments, meaning, interpretation, and deduction.

It is worth noting that gnoseology should not be confused with epistemology, because the latter focuses particularly on studying scientific knowledge, the use of hypotheses and the regiment of laws and principles, unlike gnoseology, which focuses on the origin of the knowledge.

History

-The first studies related to gnoseology start from ancient Greece thanks to the dialogues of Theetetus, who proposed an analysis and classification of the studies.

-Aristotle also made a series of contributions on the subject, stating that knowledge was obtained empirically (or through the senses). He also made the first explorations about metaphysics.

-The Middle Ages was an interesting time for the study of knowledge. Saint Augustine stated that knowledge was achieved thanks to divine intervention, and Saint Thomas Aquinas collected the first postulates of Aristotle to establish the bases of the theory of knowledge; this showed a deep rejection of the realistic and nominalist vision.

-Thanks to the advances made during the Renaissance, a series of advances in knowledge were made thanks to the invention of instruments that gave greater rigor to science and other studies. This also served as a prelude to Modernity.

-During the s. XVII characters like John Locke and Francis Bacon defended empiricism as the main source of knowledge. There was a greater deepening of the studies of the matter and its relationship with man.

-In 1637 and 1642 René Descartes published the Discourse on the method and the metaphysical Meditations, respectively, and introduced the methodical doubt as a resource for obtaining secure knowledge. Thanks to him the rationalist current emerged.

-Empiricism and rationalism became the prevailing currents at the time. Immanuel Kant proposed the so-called transcendental idealism, which indicated that man was not a passive entity but was part of a progressive process in terms of obtaining knowledge.

Kant established two types of knowledge: one of a priori character, which is the type that does not need demonstration since it is universal; and another a posteriori, which is the one that needs a series of tools to check its validity. At this point another sub-branch of epistemology emerged: German idealism.

-In the S. XX manifested phenomenology, a current of the theory of knowledge that is considered a middle point between theory and experimentation. It takes into account aspects more of a logical nature because it depends on the intuition of the scientist.

-In contrast, in the Anglo-Saxon School (United States, New Zealand, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia) a type of current called analytical philosophy was developed, which rescues empiricism and scientific research to understand the meaning of reality.

-In 1963 the so-called Fitch Paradox was introduced, an approach derived from the postulate “if all truth could be known, then all truth would be known”. However, it must be taken into account that the concept of truth is broad and, at times, subjective.

What do you study?

Gnoseology focuses on the study of the nature, origin, obtaining and relationship of knowledge in the human being, without taking into account particular areas of study.

That is, it limits itself to determining how man is capable of knowing the truth and reality from the interaction of the subject and the object.

According to the etymology of the word, it derives from the Greek terms gnosis, which means "faculty of knowing"; and logos that refer to doctrine or reasoning.

characteristics

-Study the types of knowledge, its origin and the nature of things.

-Study the nature of knowledge in general, not particular knowledge, for example of mathematics, chemistry or biology.

-It usually differentiates between three types of knowledge: direct, propositional and practical.

-For gnoseology there are two ways of acquiring knowledge: reason and senses.

-It begins in Ancient Greece, with the Platonic dialogue Theethetus.

-One of its main problems is justification, that is, under what circumstances a belief could be called knowledge.

Problems of gnoseology

Epistemology considers the different problems of knowledge, which are:

Possibility

Philosophers question the possibility of knowledge of the object of study.

Origin

Ask if the knowledge was obtained by experience or by reason.

Essence

It is related to the interaction of the subject and the object, while at the same time asking which of both has the true importance.

Justification

What is the difference between belief and knowledge? Something would be true and knowledgeable if your reasons / justifications are reliable, valid and well founded. Otherwise, it would be an opinion, conviction, belief or faith.

Types of knowledge

Due to the problems posed by gnoseology, there are different possibilities or types of knowledge:

Dogmatism

It assumes that we can all acquire safe and universal knowledge, so there is no problem of knowledge.

Realism

Man can reach the truth thanks to reality. Errors are seen as events that happen with little probability. The "being of things" predominates.

Skepticism

Unlike dogmatism, skepticism indicates that not all knowledge is safe.

Criticism

Defended by Kant, he argues that it is possible to approach the absolute truth at the same time that we find provisional assumptions that, somehow, will lead us to the final goal. Question the origin of knowledge.

Empiricism

Knowledge is obtained from experience and what is perceived through the senses. At present it is considered one of the main branches in terms of processes of obtaining knowledge.

Rationalism

Defended by René Descartes, it indicates that man is born with ideas and that reason is the means to obtain the truth.

Idealism

Developed by Immanuel Kant, this doctrine emerges as a criticism of rationalism and empiricism to, instead, defend the fact that the subject is not a passive entity but is also capable of interacting with the object.

Constructivism

The subject reaches the knowledge of the truth and constructs it through the rationing following the interaction with the object.

References

1. What is gnoseology? (sf). In Feliciteca. Retrieved: April 3, 2018. In Feliciteca de feliciteca.com.
2. Definition of gnoseology. (sf). In Concept definition of. Retrieved: April 3, 2018. In Concept definition of concept definition.
3. Definition of gnoseology. (sf). In DefinitionABC. Retrieved: April 3, 2018. In DefinitionABC of definicionabc.com.
4. Analytical philosophy. (sf). On Wikipedia. Retrieved: April 3, 2018. In Wikipedia at es.wikipedia.org.
5. Phenomenology. (sf). On Wikipedia. Retrieved: April 3, 2018. In Wikipedia at es.wikipedia.org.
6. Gnoseology. (sf). In Philosophical Dictionary. Retrieved: April 3, 2018. In Philosophical Dictionary of filsofia.org.
7. Gnesology. (sf). In Monographs. Retrieved: April 3, 2018. In Monographs of monogramas.com.
8. Gnoseology. (sf). On Wikipedia. Retrieved: April 3, 2018. In Wikipedia at es.wikipedia.org.
9. Knowledge problems. (sf). In CV Online. Retrieved: April 3, 2018. In CV Online at cvonline.uaeh.edu.mx.
10. Philosophical realism. (sf). On Wikipedia. Retrieved: April 3, 2018. In Wikipedia at es.wikipedia.org.
11. Meaning of gnoseology. (sf). In Meanings. Recovered. April 3, 2018. In Meanings of meanings.com.
12. Theaetetus. (sf). On Wikipedia. Retrieved: April 3, 2018. In Wikipedia at es.wikipedia.org.