What is good science: The practical character of reality

"The practical character of reality" (1929) is a book by John Dewey.

Summary

Three paradigmatically epistemological problems with traditional definition p.52

‘Problem of knowledge’: No possibility to prove the relation between the dualist worlds, 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 the definition on what knowledge is has to be redefined (expose and criticize)

Traditional epistemology (p.54):

‘spectator of knowledge’
‘Metaphysical dualism’
Knowledge presented to the spectator (passive action) >> 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
The Practical Character of Reality*
‘Theory of knowledge’ is not built upon the notion of a ‘static universe’ (p.275)

Modern science:

Knowing something is to create a correction in that object
Knowledge is reality making a change in itself (continuous)
The aim of knowledge is to bring about changes that lead to a betterment of ourselves
How do moral judgments (as knowledge of what - in the future - should be) fit into concept of knowledge (as determined through experience)?
Awareness is a crisis of some sort in specific situation
“Better it is for philosophy to err in active participation in the living struggles and issues of its own age and times than to maintain an immune monastic impeccability, without relevancy and bearing in the generating ideas of its contemporary present” (p. 289)