Knowledge and belief systems

Abstract

This study takes off from W.V.O. Quine's observation that philosophers have paid far too much attention to the anaIyses of the concept of knowledge at the expense of belief. Quine's attempt to naturalize epistemology is however not followed. The analysis of the concept of knowledge in this century is critically examined and seen to lead to the impasse of knowledge as something essentially unattainable and elusive. Given the problems of the ideal of knowledge as Lndef'easib lv justifiable true belief in its absolutist, infallibilist sense, this ideal is relativised to belief-systems. Beliefsyst. are here understood to be systems of sets of belief's perceived to characterize persons or social groups. They an ~ a reflection of the world-outlook of such persons or social groups, that is their perception or conception of reality, persons, life, value, etc. This study takes it that a belief-system like language is basic and necessary for authentic human existence. Like language, v cannot avoid having beliefs about the things around us. In this sense the growth and foundation of beliefs is similar to that of human language.