Unit 3 Part 1 – Ologies and Knowledge

Two Important -ologies

Before we get into the history of reasoning, I want you to consider some of the foundational concepts of what humans consider “knowing.” There are two primary types of -ology that are discussed in the modern discipline called Cognitive Psychology(the study of how humans learn things and know things). These -ologies are ontology and epistemologyand they’ve been part of the philosophy conversation for many years.

The following is the dictionary.com definition of each term and one possible example of thinking them through:

Ontology– the branch of metaphysics that studies the nature of existence or being as such (Dictionary.com, n.d.a.).

This is the concept of “What is?” “What is it to exist or to ‘be’?”

 A famous quote related to both critical thinking and ontology is as follows: “I think, therefore I am” (Descartes, 1637, 1998).

Epistemology– a branch of philosophy that investigates the origin, nature, methods, and limits of human knowledge (Dictionary.com, n.d.b.).

This is the concept of “how do we know what we know?”

Watch the following 10 minute video “Crash Course in Philosophy: The Meaning of Knowledge”

Transcript_CrashCoursePhilosophy

Below is an excerpt from an assignment in one of my graduate courses in qualitative research where I was asked to consider “what exists?” and “how do we know anything about what exists?” These are huge questions for a novice researcher, or anyone, really. Here’s where I landed:

My still emerging sense of ontology is that it attempts to define the physical, material world of water, land, air, space, buildings, cars, clothing, food prior to human perception of them. In my worldview, no matter what language humans use to describe these things, they are there – whether we observe or interact with them or not. As soon as humans begin to apply rules to this physical world, theories of gravity, matter, science, and interactive behaviour, I believe we are moving into the realm of epistemology… Emerging from a variety of readings in my doctoral program thus far, my understanding of epistemology is that it is a statement about how an individual believes knowledge exists, or is constructed and communicated with others. My epistemological stance is one of constructionism, that our perceptions of “what we know” as humans are socially constructed with many others. What “we” know varies from individual to individual, influenced by their vast social network and what they choose to read, learn, reflect on, and share as “what they know” (Hayman, privately submitted assignment, 2017).

What I felt was important in this response, was the concept of “my worldview.” Your worldview may lead you to different conclusions about ontology and epistemology. Essentially, I believe there are physical objects and realities in the world that are there whether I interpret them or not. When I do choose to interpret or explain the physical or emotional world, my interpretations and explanations are socially constructed based on my education, on my interactions with others, and on my personal cultural experiences. There is no objective “truth,” there are only evidence-based conclusions and well-reasoned arguments that I agree with and communicate with others based on my social worldview. I reserve the right to be wrong about anything, and to change my mind about what is truth if I learn new things that seem to me to be logical and well-reasoned.

My perspective on this is may be different than those whose worldview is more positivist, or scientifically evidence-based. I embrace a lot of gray area in what is valid information, where others seek black and white clarity. Neither perspective is wrong, it’s a matter of choice and -ologies. Next up, some information on the History of Reason.

References

Descartes, R., Cress, D. A., & Descartes, R. (1998). Discourse on method ; and: Meditations on first philosophy. Indianapolis: Hackett Pub.

Dictionary.com (n.d.a.). Ontology. Retrieved September 8 from https://www.dictionary.com/browse/ontology?s=t

Dictionary.com (n.d.b.) Epistemology. Retrieved September 8 from https://www.dictionary.com/browse/epistemology?s=t