Two Truths and A Lie

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Two Truths and A Lie

• Directions Everyone comes up with two truths
  about themselves and one lie. The others have to
  guess what the lie is.
• ExampleThe three things I could say about myself
  are, "I have been to Africa. I am allergic to
  horses. And I am one of 11 children." The people
  guess which of the three is not true. Then, when
  everyone has made their choice the person reveals
  the lie, "The lie is I am allergic to horses."

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TED Talk Truth/Lies
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What is Knowledge?

• JUSTIFIED
• TRUE
• BELIEF
• Where did we obtain this definition?

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Platos Dialogue Georgias

• Socrates You would agree that there is such a
  thing as knowing?
• Georgias Certainly.
• Socrates And such a thing as believing?
• Georgias Yes
• Socrates Well, do you think that knowing and
  believing are the same, or is there a difference
  between knowledge and belief?
• Georgias I should say there is a difference.
• Socrates Quite right and you can prove it like
  this. If you were asked whether there are such
  things as true and false beliefs, you would say
  there are, no doubt.
• Georgias Yes.

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• Socrates But are there such things as true and
  false knowledge?
• Georgias Certainly not.
• Socrates Then knowledge and belief are clearly
  not the same thing.
• Georgias True.
• Socrates Yet men who believe may just as
  properly be convinced as men who know?
• Georgias Yes.
• Could some of what we think is really important
  knowledge turn out to be merely belief?
• If so, would the line between knowledge and
  belief be blurry?

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Justified True Belief

• First, you must BELIEVE the statement.
• What does that mean?
• Something YOU hold to be true.
• Subjective attitude of mind
• Vague beliefs vs. Supported beliefs
• Belief beyond a reasonable doubt
• Can you think of a case where someone believes
  something which is true, but where we would not
  say that she knows it?

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Justified True Belief

• Second, the belief must be JUSTIFIED.
• What does that mean?
• Do you have a reason for holding a particular
  belief?
• Evidence
• Empirical reasoning
• Authority or Expertise
• NOT coincidence, lucky guess, or faulty reasoning
• Validity of justification
• Is it reliable?
• Strong knowledge vs. weak knowledge
• Fact vs. opinion

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Justified True Belief
    

• Third, the justified belief must be TRUE.
• What is Truth?
• Public
• Independent of anyones
• belief
• Eternal
• Universal
• Do you agree with these characteristics?

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Is Truth Subjective, Relative or Absolute?
Subjective --Depends solely on perception
of individual. --Depends on individuals belief
system. --Pragmatic and existential truths are
valid. Relative --Relative to the time and
culture of those who seek it. -- Perception and
emotion help determine truth. --Certain
concepts exist only in certain
cultures. Absolute --Truth never changes. --It
is what it is regardless of human perception or
emotion.
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What are the tests of truth?

• Correspondence Theory
• Go and check it out!
• Example Science
• Problems?
• Coherence Theory
• Does this fit with what I already know?
• Example Mathematics
• Problems?
• Pragmatic Theory
• Does it work?
• Example Engineering
• Problems?

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Correspondence Theory

• Correspondence Truth Test
• The cat is on the mat! (State of Affairs)
• Empirical

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Coherence Theory

• Coherence Truth Test
• Since 224, then 4-22 and 426
• Sharks have been sighted in Lake Conroe.

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Pragmatic Theory

• Complex!
• Does the idea work for you?
• The car will not start because the computer
  switch is not engaging.

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Test God Exists.

• Use each theory to determine whether or not this
  statement is true.
• Correspondence Theory
• Coherence Theory
• Pragmatic Theory