The nature of knowledge

Knowledge is truth about the world.

Truth is:

What corresponds to reality (the correspondence theory), or

What coheres with our other knowledge (the coherence theory), or

What adds to our understanding (the pragmatic theory).

Most fundamental: correspondence theory (necessary and sufficient).

Less fundamental: coherence and pragmatic theories (necessary but not sufficient).

Knowledge is not belief.

Knowledge is certain (probability of 100%).

Belief is uncertain (probability <100%).

Fanatics derive strongest beliefs from lowest probabilities.

The fringe groups in the JFK community are fanatics (e.g., the publicity just before this conference).

 

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