From Metaphysics to Epistemology
Philosophy often involves a process whereby
1.
A premise is offered
2.
A response is offered
3.
A compromise is created to bridge the gap between the
original premise and the response
*** a premise is a statement or proposition presented in an
argument as reasons for accepting the conclusion
Bridging the Gap
Compromise
Premise
Response
S. Dolan / St. Marcellinus
We saw this in Metaphysics
Key question: What is REAL?
Pragmatism
Materialism
Idealism
Pragmatism bridges the gap between idealism and materialism
Agnosticism
Atheism
Theism
Agnosticism provides a compromise
between theism and atheism.
S. Dolan / St. Marcellinus
The same principle holds true in
Epistemology
Key question: What is TRUE KNOWLEDGE?
Transcendental
Idealism
Empiricism /
Scientific
Method
Rationalism
Rationalism – knowledge comes from the mind’s ability to reason.
Empiricism – knowledge comes from sensory experience. Empiricism
eventually leads to the emergence of the scientific method.
Transcendental Idealism – knowledge is arrived at by reason and the senses.
Transcendental idealism bridges the gap between rationalism and
empiricism, with the scientific method being the modern extension of
early empiricism.
And so the mind / body debate continues
in EPISTEMOLOGY.
It appears that the question
what is real?
is clearly linked to the question
what is true knowledge?
S. Dolan / St. Marcellinus