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Opinion versus Knowledge


By Shumaila Hameed
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MP/2012-07

Branches of Philosophy
Ontology (metaphysics) What is real? Ethics What is right or wrong? Aesthetics What is beauty? Epistemology What is knowledge?

Epistemology
What is Epistemology?
The study of the nature, source, limits, and validity of knowledge. It is interested in developing criteria for evaluating claims people make that they know something. Central questions:
What is knowledge?

What is the difference between knowledge and opinion or belief?


It you know something does that mean that you are certain about it? Is knowledge really possible?

Definitions
Knowledge is "justified (i.e., verified) true belief."
To know is to believe. The belief must, in fact, be true. The belief must be "justified" (i.e., verified, proved) by some standard and generally recognized means.

Opinion is belief that may be true or may be false but that has not been or cannot be "justified" (i.e., verified, proved) by any standard and generally recognized means.

Platos view of knowledge, ignorance, and opinion


State of Mind
Knowledge Opinion Ignorance

Object
What is (Being, Reality) What is & is not (Becoming) What is not (Nothingness, Unreality)

Access
Intellect Perception ?

Example
An example: What is 2 + 2 = ? Opinion or knowledge? What is the boiling point of water? Opinion or knowledge? What about: Best Subject, Favorite Subject What about: Best Subject, Favorite Subject? Opinion or knowledge?

Types of Opinion and Knowledge


Opinion Valid Opinion Faulty Opinion Knowledge Revealed Knowledge Intuitive Knowledge Rational Knowledge Empirical Knowledge Authoritative Knowledge

Opinion vs. Knowledge


Knowledge vs. Opinion again: Opinion: Is changeable Can be true or false Is not backed up by reasons Is the result of persuasion Knowledge: Is constant Is always true Is backed up by reasons Is the result of instruction

Criteria for distinguishing between knowledge and opinion


Criteria: Doubt and believe are relative only to opinion, never to knowledge.
1st

Knowledge: 2+2=4:
a. I know this; I dont doubt it; I cannot even properly say that I believe it. b. I dont disbelieve that 2+2 equals 4; I know it. Opinion: TV is best mean of entertainment a. Some people doubt it; b. some may believe it; c. no one knows it to be true.
CONTD.

Criteria for distinguishing between knowledge and opinion


1. There is always a state of war, either a cold or a hot war between sovereign nations. a. b. 2. Anyone who thinks for a moment will see this is true Everyone understands it to be true.

There will be another World War in the next 5 years. a. b. c. No one actually knows. At best it is a probable prediction. Some people may believe it and some may doubt it, but it is not a statement of knowledge.

Criteria for distinguishing between knowledge and opinion


3rd Criteria: We can only have freedom of thought only about matters of opinion. In matters of opinion everyone has a right to their own opinion but no one ever says this about knowledge. I dont say, I have a right to my own knowledge. 2+2 = 4. Do I have freedom of thought here? 4th Criteria: Matters of opinion are subject to conflict, knowledge is not.
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Criteria for distinguishing between knowledge and opinion


5th Criteria that differentiates between knowledge and opinion is consensus.
1. It is only with respect to opinion that we mention about taking a consensus. In fact, we say a consensus of opinion, majority opinion, minority opinion, expert opinion, inexpert opinion. 2. We never say the majority knowledge as opposed to minority knowledge or expert knowledge as 13 opposed to inexpert knowledge.

Michel Eyquem de Montaigne (1533-1592)

We know nothing; everything is a matter of opinion? And we mustnt be fooled, he says, by the feelings which we sometimes have of certainty, the feeling that the things is perfectly clear and sure for us.
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David Hume (1711-1776)

David Hume says that we do have knowledge, but at best, it is highly probable opinion that consists in the experimental sciences. Thus, because it is probable, it is opinion, not knowledge.
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Bertrand Russell (1872-1970)


The question how knowledge should be defined is perhaps the most important and difficult of the three with which we shall deal. This may seem surprising: at first sight it might be thought that knowledge might be defined as belief which is in agreement with the facts. The trouble is that no one knows what a belief is, no one knows what a fact is, and no one knows what sort of agreement between them would make a belief 16 true. Let us begin with belief.

Rationale For Knowledge

Anyone who argues that everything is a matter of opinion, cant defend his case without establishing that his view is knowledge. It is self-defeating.

Conclusion:

Therefore, an opinion is not knowledge, nor is knowledge that of ones own opinion.

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References
Hoffmann, T. Plato Knowledge vs. Opinion. http://faculty.cua.edu/hoffmann/courses/201_1068/Plato6%20knowledge%20and%20opinion.pdf Kneller, J. Introduction to Philosophy of Education. Nicholas,A. (2003). Theory of Knowledge, London. John Murrey. Russell, R (1926). Theory of Knowledge: Encyclopaedia Britannica http://www.marxits.org/reference/subject/philosophy/works/en/r ussell1.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge

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