One of the goals of scientific theorising is to develop…
“One of the goals of scientific theorising is to develop concepts which are adequate to the phenomena under study. In my view, things should work the same way in epistemology. We want to know what knowledge actually amounts to, not what our folk concept of knowledge is, since, just as with our pretheoretical concept of acidity, it might contain all sorts of misunderstandings and leave out all manner of important things.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Scientific theorising seeks concepts that truly capture the phenomena; similarly, epistemology should aim for a precise, non‑folk notion of knowledge, free from everyday misconceptions.
In simple terms: Seek accurate concepts, not folk definitions.
Key Takeaway
Pursue precise definitions of knowledge.
Themes
epistemology
philosophy
conceptual analysis
science
clarity
Mood
inquisitive
analytical
critical
Type
philosophical
academic
reflective
When to use this quote
- academic research
- teaching philosophy
- public discourse
- policy making
Key Concepts
theory of knowledge
conceptual adequacy
folk concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What everyday assumptions about knowledge might be misleading?
- How can we test if a concept is truly adequate?
A Different Perspective
Folk concepts may be deeply entrenched, making revision difficult.