On Dewey
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"On Dewey" is a book by R. Talisse that was published with ISBN 0534576176.
Summary
- Three paradigmatically epistemological problems with traditional definition p.52
- ‘Problem of knowledge’
- No possibility to prove the relation between the dualist world, since experience is perceived
- ‘Problem of the external world’
- Since we only experience with our minds and knowledge solely derives from experience, “it is impossible to know that there is a world external to and independent of one’s experience”
- ‘Problem of skepticism’
- Doubting the most fundamental principles, most common sense beliefs and the possibility of knowledge altogether, the skeptic shows that even these conclusions cannot be established as ‘knowledge’
- Clash with traditional beliefs only differs in views about how knowledge is acquired > (Dewey) p.53
- But: he also disagrees on the definition on what knowledge is (expose and criticize)
- Traditional epistemology p.54:
- ‘spectator of knowledge’
- ‘Metaphysical dualism’
- Knowledge presented to the spectator (passive action)
- Therefore, traditional philosophers believed in knowledge to be ‘viewing of reality’
- Dewey:” The effect of the development of biology has been to reverse the [traditional] picture. Wherever, there is life, there is behavior, activity. In order that life may persist, this activity has been both continuous and adapted to the environment.” p.55
- Knowledge is not “separate and self-sufficing” p.56
- It is not the aim of science represent the world in an exact copy, but to control and predict the changing course of nature p. 57
- No ‘Reality’ apart from dynamic, mutable and ‘in process’ environments
> ‘Experimentalism’
- Concept of inquiry is introduced p.58
- Individual’s response to problematic situation
- 5 stages: perplexity, interpretation, examination, contextualization, testing
- Knowing is a skill (direct and control situation) p.63
- Outcome of any inquiry not to be called knowledge, rather ‘confirmed hypothesis’
- Provides ‘knowledge’ to conduct future inquiry more capable
