I became a fan of epistemology, theory of knowledge, how we know what we know (and how do the ones that try to inform us know what they claim to know) almost 50 years ago. I treat all information with scepticism, may be true but mey be false. Is it important for me to believe it, to know it? If it isn't important then I don't care whethe…
I became a fan of epistemology, theory of knowledge, how we know what we know (and how do the ones that try to inform us know what they claim to know) almost 50 years ago. I treat all information with scepticism, may be true but mey be false. Is it important for me to believe it, to know it? If it isn't important then I don't care whether it is true or not.
I then thinik about the possible motives of the agent telling me something. Do I trust or can I think of reasons for the agent to mislead me, manipulate me? I might then turn to an agent who has opposing opinions, motives to find out what they say or claim to believe. The truth may lie closer to one than the other or may not tally with either. It may simply be somewhere in between. I trust myself, value my intuition, my intelligence, my scepticism. Often I can't decide so I keep my mind firmly open.
I am aware of clickbait, of AI fakery. The grounds for believing the information given to me is much less secure than it was 50 years ago.
I had forgotten about the existence of epistemology, so thank you for jogging my memory. Critical thinking is critical, especially these days. Clickbait is just the tip of the iceberg. What’s underwater is what will truly sink all our Titanics if we aren’t careful. Cheers, Ray.
I became a fan of epistemology, theory of knowledge, how we know what we know (and how do the ones that try to inform us know what they claim to know) almost 50 years ago. I treat all information with scepticism, may be true but mey be false. Is it important for me to believe it, to know it? If it isn't important then I don't care whether it is true or not.
I then thinik about the possible motives of the agent telling me something. Do I trust or can I think of reasons for the agent to mislead me, manipulate me? I might then turn to an agent who has opposing opinions, motives to find out what they say or claim to believe. The truth may lie closer to one than the other or may not tally with either. It may simply be somewhere in between. I trust myself, value my intuition, my intelligence, my scepticism. Often I can't decide so I keep my mind firmly open.
I am aware of clickbait, of AI fakery. The grounds for believing the information given to me is much less secure than it was 50 years ago.
I had forgotten about the existence of epistemology, so thank you for jogging my memory. Critical thinking is critical, especially these days. Clickbait is just the tip of the iceberg. What’s underwater is what will truly sink all our Titanics if we aren’t careful. Cheers, Ray.
Alert, wise, cautious but not paranoid.