Different ways of knowing things

[S O F I]

Some philosophers have argued that there are several different ways of attaining knowledge:

Method of Experience: People hold firmly to some belief because it is consistent with their own experience and observations.

Method of Intuition: People hold firmly to some belief because it “just stands to reason”—it seems obvious or self-evident.

Method of Authority: People hold firmly to some belief because some respected official, agency, or source has said it is so.

Method of Science: People accept some belief because scientific studies have tended to replicate that result using a series of samples, settings, and methods.


Where do you think most of your knowledge comes from, in relation to the four different methods?


PS. For the "i think i'm phunny" posters, the bible would fall under method of authority.

 

[Shadows]

Probably experience.

I am very observant and b/c of it, I tend to be correct when I talk to authority. However, a lot of that experience also had science involved.

 

[Flipmo]

Method of experience and intuition seem most like me.

 

[Jokerman]

My knowledge mostly comes from the intuitive experience of scientific authority. Robot scientists in particular.

 

[Preach]

My experience with people suggest it's a pretty even mix of the four, with the levels varying slightly from person to person. Pretty vague answer, but that's what I actually think. I wrote a little bit about common behavior that I think reflects the four methods in practice, but ended up removing it. You probably know what I mean. When you experience something that takes you by surprise/throws your world upside down, you probably ask some critical questions about life, and the knowledge you gain is of an intuitive and logical nature. Then I had similar examples for the 3 others.

 

[Chronic]

Difficult question. I liked Jokerman's order of listing them, it's often a combination of all 4 but what truly shapes my opinion is intuition. But maybe i'd say intuition in regards to wisdom (or rather the application of knowledge) and science/experience for actual knowledge. Which one are you getting at? Just the gathering of information or something that implies a true understanding?

 

[Rahim]

experience and intuition.

 

[Duke]

All four, depending on subject and circumstances.

Also, scientific method is in essence the same as experience. It is spread/shared through the authority argument.

 

[ArtsyGirl]

All of them influence me but I'd like to say experience is the main one, but I am only 24 but it's definately up there. So I'd say intuition then I'd say experience then Scientific then Authority although I find the last two similar in the sense I'd only value an Authoritative opinion on something if it was substantiated by either facts or it seemed intuitive. After a few glasses of wine I hope that made sense..

 

[_carmi]

Method of Experience: People hold firmly to some belief because it is consistent with their own experience and observations.

Method of Intuition: People hold firmly to some belief because it “just stands to reason”—it seems obvious or self-evident.

Method of Authority: People hold firmly to some belief because some respected official, agency, or source has said it is so.

Method of Science: People accept some belief because scientific studies have tended to replicate that result using a series of samples, settings, and methods.


In order:

Experience
Intuition
Scientific
Authority.

Although there different between first and last is not that much though. More or less all equal.

 

[Bender]

sofi you missed out esoterics and mysticsm, where most of my knowledge comes from, aka the realm of pseudo intellectuals