"Back in the day?" What, back in 1000 or so B.C.? People have known that the world is round for over 2000 years, now. Sorry man, you just need to use a better example. Maybe the Geocentric solar system hypothesis.Ameatypie said:Being an epistemology (a branch of philosophy) student, I naturally ask questions. The main question, the main focus of the course is around "how do we KNOW what we know?". Here is a little background knowledge to help you out when it comes to answering this...
Plato, an ancient philosopher, defined knowledge as a "justified true belief." This is the definition of knowledge that is commonly accepted as THE definition of knowledge by almost all philosophers today. You must recognize knowledge as something that is a) specific to individuals, and b) attached to emotion. Back in the day, people KNEW that the earth was flat because it was justified (they could see!), true to individuals, and people believed it. They KNEW, this was their knowledge. The reason there cannot be knowledge without emotion is because believing something requires emotion as a backing force.
And it's very easy to have knowledge without emotion. My belief or emotion doesn't change the fact that I'm using a computer.
Because my brain is working and my consciousness is reading what's happening.Anyways, the question! Do we REALLY know what we know? How can you be certain that, say, you are reading this?
At least three of my senses and countless nerve endings.What is telling you that you are reading this?
Because it absorbs all wavelengths of visible light.How do you know your computer is the color that it is?
Because many, many people have told me and we share enough traits to make it plausible.How do you know who your mother is?
Because still water and polished glass have the marvelous property of reflection.How do you know that you look as you do?
Because the implications of a round world fit with the weather patterns, celestial movements, and other varying factors that I observe every day.How do you know the earth is round?