Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge

Abstract

The paper is a brief elementary introduction into the main topics of the theory of knowledge, geared to the undergraduate audience. Theory of knowledge is presented as a two part construction: the first, simple and historically primary part is concerned with the reliability of cognitive faculties and activities (perception versus thinking, testimony, status of science and religion, moral knowledge and the like) and culminates with the general issue of scepticism. The second is properly meta-epistemological, having to do with justification and with definition of knowledge. The main part of the paper is then dedicated to an elementary exposition of theories of justification, i.e. to fundationalism, coherentism and reliabilism. The first part provides motivation and link to actual epistemic practices, the second a more philosophical search for general concepts and principles to be deployed in solving the concrete problems at the first one.