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Flip to reveal answersThe three main sources of knowledge?
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All 8 Flashcards — Sources of knowledge
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Question
The three main sources of knowledge?
Answer
Perception (the senses), reason (thinking things out), and testimony (what others tell you).
Question
Perception as a source?
Answer
What you learn directly through your senses — seeing, hearing, touching.
Question
Reason as a source?
Answer
What you work out by thinking — logic, maths, drawing conclusions.
Question
Testimony?
Answer
Knowledge you get from what others tell you — teachers, books, news. Most of what you know runs through it.
Question
Can testimony be real knowledge?
Answer
Yes — if the source is reliable. Distrust all testimony and you'd know almost nothing, which is absurd.
Question
The test for good testimony?
Answer
Not 'did I check it myself?' but 'is the source reliable?' — a trusted source gives genuine knowledge.
Question
Pratibha (Bhartrhari)?
Answer
A sudden flash of intuitive insight — knowing something all at once, without deducing it or being told.
Question
How does pratibha pressure JTB?
Answer
Insight can be true belief, but the 'justification' is hard to spell out — 'I just saw it' isn't a stated reason.
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Topic 3.1 hub
Nature of knowledge
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