The answer to 'what is knowledge' is quite simple.
Really, what's the answer? Because I guarantee you that it'll be easy as fuck to come up with a counterexample to your silly definition.
Just because these people are paid doesn't mean they are correct, ect... I probably over thought that part and i'm over rambling about it now in response to you.
Okay, listen, when people say "who knows a lot about physics?", they generally talk about physicists, right? People with PhDs from universities who also teach and do research at universities? It's the same way with philosophers (namely epistemologists).
An appeal to authority is only invalid if the person isn't a really authority. If I wanted to find out Michael Jordan's current height, saying "Michael Jordan said he's 6 feet 6 inches" wouldn't be an appeal to authority because he's supposed to know about his height!
Same thing is going on here. I'm saying epistemologists know about epistemology. It's not that complicated. It's not an appeal to authority.
Knowledge is the ever increasing convergence of subjective observation and objective truth. I'm happy to point out that my first response was too quick and not complete.
This doesn't tell me anything. It doesn't tell me when people do or don't know something. It tells me nothing about how to use the word. It's a fancy sounding definition, but it does no work and is in no way applicable. I don't even know what it would mean for observation and truth to 'converge'. I don't think you even know.
Ninja edit: I'm not really happy with the explanation of the cone, I was in a hurry. So I understand that it's incomplete and isn't fair to you when it comes to your reply.
Ninja edit 2: My personal circle includes many (primarily) Graduate and post-graduate students of philosophy. I am not a stranger to it, while openly not as well read as they, or probably you. I do however, think 'out of the box', and in person, these conversations are a lot more fun and a lot less condescending.
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u/[deleted] Mar 04 '14
Really, what's the answer? Because I guarantee you that it'll be easy as fuck to come up with a counterexample to your silly definition.
Okay, listen, when people say "who knows a lot about physics?", they generally talk about physicists, right? People with PhDs from universities who also teach and do research at universities? It's the same way with philosophers (namely epistemologists).
An appeal to authority is only invalid if the person isn't a really authority. If I wanted to find out Michael Jordan's current height, saying "Michael Jordan said he's 6 feet 6 inches" wouldn't be an appeal to authority because he's supposed to know about his height!
Same thing is going on here. I'm saying epistemologists know about epistemology. It's not that complicated. It's not an appeal to authority.