Lecture on Knowledge by Jennifer Nagel

Introduction to Knowledge

• Presenter: Jennifer Nagel, Philosophy Professor at the University of Toronto
• Topic: Understanding the concept of knowledge
• Human Craving: Humans naturally seek knowledge and track others' knowledge to understand their actions
• Complexity of Knowledge: It's challenging to define what knowledge is and how it differs from mere belief
• Series Objective: Explore questions and paradoxes related to knowledge and philosophical attempts to solve them

Different Uses of "Know"

• Variations of "Know":
  • Knowing a person (e.g., "Alice knows Pierre")
  • Knowing a place (e.g., "Pierre knows Paris")
  • Knowing a language (e.g., "Alice knows French")
• Focus of Series: Knowing a fact ("knowledge-that")
  • Example: "Alice knows that it's raining outside"
  • Includes knowing answers to questions like "where" or "when"

Nature of Knowledge

• Global Concept: Every language has a term for "knowledge-that"
• Common Usage: "Know" is one of the top ten most common words in English

Comparing Knowing and Believing

• Sentence Analysis:
  1. "Alice knows that it's raining outside."
  2. "Pierre believes that it's raining outside."
• Differences in Knowledge and Belief:
  • Truth: Knowledge must be true; belief can be false
  • Confidence: Knowledge implies confidence without doubt

Key Features of Knowledge

• Truth Attachment: Knowledge is inherently linked to truth
• Confidence: Knowing involves certainty
• Good Basis: Knowledge requires a reliable basis for judgment

Examples and Problems

• Scenario:
  • Pierre, pessimistic, believes it's raining despite no direct evidence
  • By chance, he is correct, but lacks a good basis
• Conclusion: Good basis is required for true knowledge

Upcoming Topics

• Skepticism: Is knowledge possible even in seemingly clear situations?
  • Addressed in the next video
• Solutions to Skepticism: Discussed in two following videos
• Controversial Questions: What constitutes a good basis for knowledge?