How does anyone know what’s real, what’s true? The three conditions for knowledge, according to philosophers, are justified, true and belief. (Also known as the “JTB” theory.) Whether Chapin students agree is up for debate.
After reading the thought experiment “No Know,” Class 10 scholars in our Philosophy FOCUS course engaged in a fascinating discussion about whether the subject of the story had told the truth.
In short, the thought experiment describes a woman, Naomi, meeting a man with a distinct face and a rabbit’s foot keychain in a coffee shop. Later that day, the man is hit by a car and killed. When questioned by the police, Naomi states, “All I know is that he bought a coffee at that café yesterday and that he always carried a key ring with a white rabbit’s foot.” To her surprise, in the shop a week later, she sees the same man — with the same keychain — who informs her that he is the man’s twin brother. Naomi leaves wondering: Had she told the police the truth?
First, the students defined each word in the JTB theory. Justified was described using words like “proof,” “reasoning,” and “explanation.” True, the students said, meant “aligned with reality” and belief was deemed subjective.
From there, the students broke into groups to decide whether Naomi had told the police the truth. When they came together as a class, the group of nine leaned heavily in favor of yes.
The two who disagreed kicked off the discussion. “Truth is accurate,” said one student. “Perception and reality are two different things,”she continued, underscoring that truth and knowledge are not necessarily the same thing. Therefore, she felt Naomi had lied.
“But she phrased it as ‘all I know,’” a peer countered. “That is all she knew at the time.” The statement Naomi gave, she explained, was her truth.
Remarking that people’s experiences are so different — so unique and individualized — one student wondered, “Are truths ever the same?”
Philosophy teacher Lucy Davis ’12 listened thoughtfully to the students’ discussion. “Is truth necessary for knowledge?” she asked them, leading to a dissection of the JTB theory.
“To have truth as a requirement for knowledge is unachievable,” one student remarked, noting that people from different cultures and backgrounds will have varying beliefs and realities, but that does not mean any are untrue.
One said that justification is most important, otherwise “it’s just a belief.” Another said that we must consider the western perspective that influences our knowledge. “There are dominant perceptions that have allowed specific knowledge to persist,” she said.
What, then, is the measurement for truth? What if, for example, half of the country believes Washington, D.C. is the capital of the U.S., but the other half believes it’s New York City. “How do you rectify ‘untruths’?” Ms. Davis asked.
Scholarly and respectful debate filled the room and, before the students knew it, their 45 minutes were up. Their curiosity piqued, the students were ready to tackle whether or not emotions are rational in their next class.
