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Alternative Facts - On Knowledge and Its Enemies

Posted on:November 22, 2023 at 12:00 AM

What is knowledge?

Knowledge can be theoretical (knowing that something is true) or practical (knowing how to do something). Theoretical knowledge exists in the mind, while practical knowledge involves skills and abilities.

Philosophers say knowledge requires:

Justification through evidence is especially important when considering resistance to knowledge.

How does knowledge compound?

Knowledge builds on itself. Existing knowledge provides the framework to interpret and integrate new information. Our cognitive systems evolve to make sense of new concepts based on what we already know.

What is belief perseverance?

Belief perseverance refers to maintaining a belief despite new information that firmly contradicts it. People can be remarkably resistant to changing their mind once they have formed an explanation. This phenomenon is partly explained by the way we process and interpret information to confirm our existing beliefs.

How are language and thought connected?

Language allows us to form and communicate symbolic thought. Through language, we can reflect on the past, imagine the future, and convey abstract ideas. While animals can signal and some apes can learn symbols, only humans have full-blown language that enables higher-order thinking.

What are the two types of ignorance?

There are two kinds of ignorance:

  1. Holding mistaken beliefs without justification
  2. Having no beliefs or convictions at all

Without conviction, knowledge alone is not enough to motivate actions. Strongly held beliefs can motivate people even if untrue.

What is the Dunning-Kruger effect?

The Dunning-Kruger effect describes our tendency to overestimate our abilities in areas where we lack competence. Across many domains, those with the least skill tend to have the most inflated self-assessments. The less we know, the more confident we may feel about our capabilities.

How does PKM extend our cognition?

Personal knowledge management (PKM) tools like Obsidian become part of our extended cognition. By offloading information storage, they function similarly to biological memory. The information is equally accessible and guides actions in the same way. So in a sense, some of our beliefs exist externally rather than just internally.

How can public belief be challenged?

There are two ways to challenge an established public belief:

Spreading manufactured doubt by falsifying expert consensus is an effective tactic of science denial movements. Even if it doesn’t disprove the belief, it can reduce conviction.

What is an issue with personalized learning?

A downside of overly open-ended personalized learning is that it relies heavily on parental resources and guidance. Without proper structure, students from disadvantaged backgrounds tend to fall further behind their peers. The efficiency and equity of education suffers when curricula are not carefully designed.