The Proofs of Knowledge and Belief
October 2nd, 2008
![proof of god\](/wp-content/uploads/cc/proof_of_gods_love15.jpg "proof of god\")
Andrew asked:
Some people think that the Earth was created by God, and scientists believe that it was created as a result of an explosion. Both parties believe that their beliefs are facts, knowledge. Both have some sort of proof to justify thier beliefs, but the the viewpoint of scientists is universally accepted as truth. So is knowledge only a belief that the most people of the world adhere? Does it make some statements or thoughts knowledge that the most population of the world believe in it?
If belief is proved by emotion and knowledge by reasoning, is it possible for belief to be supported by reasoning, and knowledge by emotion? For instance, I feel I am in love; consequently I know that I feel love to the one towards whom my feelings are addressed. This argument is wholly grounded on perception of someone’s own feelings and as a consequence should be a belief. But then it would be wrong to apply the word ”know”, even if thew person was absolutely convinced of his or her feelings.
How to determine things that some people interpret as given fact and others haven’t ever heard of as knowledge? We know for sure that after autumn comes winter, and in winter it usually snows. This can be proved by many people in various ways. For example you can ask your grandparents and they will prove that it is really so and has been so for many years. We can take a look at books dating back centuries and read that even then it was so. Weather forecasts as well as statistic data can prove this. This fact is cosidered to be knowledge in every developed country and among all civilised nations. However, for a person who lives in Africa this is far from truth, not to mention this to be knowledge. Africans know that there are four seasons, but on their continent where it is always hot, it doesn’t snow in winter.
Some people think that the Earth was created by God, and scientists believe that it was created as a result of an explosion. Both parties believe that their beliefs are facts, knowledge. Both have some sort of proof to justify thier beliefs, but the the viewpoint of scientists is universally accepted as truth. So is knowledge only a belief that the most people of the world adhere? Does it make some statements or thoughts knowledge that the most population of the world believe in it?
If belief is proved by emotion and knowledge by reasoning, is it possible for belief to be supported by reasoning, and knowledge by emotion? For instance, I feel I am in love; consequently I know that I feel love to the one towards whom my feelings are addressed. This argument is wholly grounded on perception of someone’s own feelings and as a consequence should be a belief. But then it would be wrong to apply the word ”know”, even if thew person was absolutely convinced of his or her feelings.
How to determine things that some people interpret as given fact and others haven’t ever heard of as knowledge? We know for sure that after autumn comes winter, and in winter it usually snows. This can be proved by many people in various ways. For example you can ask your grandparents and they will prove that it is really so and has been so for many years. We can take a look at books dating back centuries and read that even then it was so. Weather forecasts as well as statistic data can prove this. This fact is cosidered to be knowledge in every developed country and among all civilised nations. However, for a person who lives in Africa this is far from truth, not to mention this to be knowledge. Africans know that there are four seasons, but on their continent where it is always hot, it doesn’t snow in winter.