Cognitive epistemology : Knowledge as a natural phenomenon
Author
Summary, in English
This thesis investigates the question ‘What is knowledge?’ In intuition-based epistemology the question is often considered to concern how ‘knowledge’ is used linguistically or conceptually rather than what knowledge is. In addition, since intuitions are used as evidence despite empirical experiments indicating that people’s intuitions vary a great deal and that little conclusive systematicity can be found, it is argued that approaches with such a focus cannot provide a solid foundation to answer the initial question.
By instead looking at naturalistic approaches, a pluralistic cognitive epistemological approach which accepts ontological naturalism, methodological cooperative naturalism, and evolutionary epistemology can be identified. Given this approach – close to that of Hilary Kornblith – it is possible to look at how various relevant sciences see the natural phenomenon of knowledge. This provides a complement to Kornblith’s sole focus on cognitive ethology. By also including the perspectives of cognitive psychology and evolutionary systems theory a new view of knowledge is made possible.
The emerging picture indicates that the natural phenomenon of knowledge plausibly can be seen as consisting in dynamic internal survival-beneficial structures.
For higher organisms, such structures importantly involve reflexive and reflective memory processes that (satisficingly) reliably produce (satisficingly) true beliefs.
By instead looking at naturalistic approaches, a pluralistic cognitive epistemological approach which accepts ontological naturalism, methodological cooperative naturalism, and evolutionary epistemology can be identified. Given this approach – close to that of Hilary Kornblith – it is possible to look at how various relevant sciences see the natural phenomenon of knowledge. This provides a complement to Kornblith’s sole focus on cognitive ethology. By also including the perspectives of cognitive psychology and evolutionary systems theory a new view of knowledge is made possible.
The emerging picture indicates that the natural phenomenon of knowledge plausibly can be seen as consisting in dynamic internal survival-beneficial structures.
For higher organisms, such structures importantly involve reflexive and reflective memory processes that (satisficingly) reliably produce (satisficingly) true beliefs.
Department/s
Publishing year
2024-05-10
Language
English
Full text
Document type
Dissertation
Publisher
Lund University (Media-Tryck)
Topic
- Philosophy
Keywords
- knowledge
- cognitive epistemology
- naturalistic epistemology
- cognitive psychology
- evolutionary systems theory
Status
Published
Project
- Cognitive Epistemology
Supervisor
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISBN: 978-91-89874-02-2
- ISBN: 978-91-89874-03-9
Defence date
10 May 2024
Defence time
13:15
Defence place
LUX B152
Opponent
- Klemens Kappel (professor)