Epistemology

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that the search for what is true and knowable has received an enormous amount of attention throughout the millennia; however whether there can be complete objectivity or subjectivity in the realm of knowledge and human affairs has naturally been a major part of this debate. The author points out that, because the personal state is primarily controlled by individual decisions to various levels of commitment to knowing what is true and to achieving this, the personal state is the framework to understanding the intricate interplay between the powerful external forces in people's lives and the personal decisions that guide their day-to-day decisions, values and perceptions. The paper relates that the "scientific method" and both classical empiricism and rationalism are mistaken because they are insufficient in and of themselves to achieve comprehensive understanding and informed knowledge.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Review and Discussion
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"For example, in his book, "Personal Knowledge: Towards a Post-Critical Philosophy", Michael Polanyi (1997) makes the interesting point that while humans perceive the world around them through their various senses, these perceptions are only limited and incomplete versions of reality because people necessarily base them on a worldview colored by personal experiences and beliefs that naturally affect their ability to objectively analyze what they perceive. These unique interpretations are absolutely required, though, because this is the method universally used by all people, who are also an inextricable element in the analysis."

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