The Nature of Knowledge and Truth – CUET PG Philosophy – Notes

Definitions of Knowledge

The philosophical study of knowledge is called epistemology. It seeks to answer fundamental questions such as: What is knowledge? How do we acquire it? What are the limits of what we can know? At the heart of epistemology lies the quest for a precise definition of knowledge itself. For centuries, the dominant view in Western philosophy has been the Justified True Belief (JTB) account.

The Tripartite Analysis of Knowledge: Justified True Belief (JTB)

This classical definition, with roots in Plato’s dialogues (particularly the Theaetetus), posits that for a subject ‘S’ to know a proposition ‘p’, three conditions must be met:

1. The Belief Condition: S must believe that p is true.
2. The Truth Condition: The proposition p must actually be true.
3. The Justification Condition: S must be justified in believing that p is true.

Let’s break down each component in detail:

1. The Belief Condition (Subjective Component):

Belief is the starting point for knowledge. It is a mental state of acceptance or assent towards a proposition. If you do not believe something, you cannot be said to know it. For example, if you say “I know that New Delhi is the capital of India,” it inherently implies that you believe it. You cannot simultaneously know something and not believe it. This condition distinguishes knowledge from mere awareness or contemplation of an idea. A belief is a proposition you hold to be true, a conviction you possess.

2. The Truth Condition (Objective Component):

This is an unshakeable requirement for knowledge. For a belief to count as knowledge, it must correspond to reality. You can believe something that is false, but you cannot know something that is false. For instance, in the 15th century, most people believed the Earth was the center of the universe. They had a strong belief, and perhaps even what they considered justification (the evidence of their senses), but they did not know it, because the proposition was false. Knowledge must be of what is the case. This condition anchors knowledge to the external, objective world, preventing it from being a purely subjective phenomenon.

3. The Justification Condition (The Bridge):

This is arguably the most complex and debated condition. It serves as the crucial link between the subjective belief and the objective truth. Justification is what distinguishes knowledge from a lucky guess or a mere true opinion. If you believe a lottery ticket will win, and it happens to win, you had a true belief, but you did not know it would win because you had no adequate reason or evidence-no justification. Justification consists of the good reasons, evidence, or support for holding a belief. What counts as good justification? Philosophers have proposed several sources:

• Empirical Evidence: Justification based on sensory experience (sight, sound, touch, etc.). “I am justified in believing there is a laptop in front of me because I can see and touch it.”
• Logical Reasoning: Justification based on deduction or induction. “I am justified in believing that Socrates is mortal because I know all men are mortal and Socrates is a man.”
• Testimony: Justification based on what others tell us. We are justified in believing many historical and scientific facts based on the testimony of experts and reliable sources.
• Memory: Justification based on what we recall from past experiences.

The JTB model can be expressed as: Knowledge = Justified + True + Belief.