6-Philosophy-Epistemology-Reference Source

authority as reference

Knowledge can come from experts, scholars, or powerful people {authority, knowledge}|, by reading, listening, or being apprentices.

empiricism in epistemology

Knowledge ultimately derives from sensory experience {empiricism, epistemology}|. Perceptions have elementary sensory images or units. Minds build concepts by abstracting common properties from perceptions. Complex ideas {image} are simple-idea combinations. Abstract ideas, such as mathematics or self, come from sensory ideas. Minds can compare, identify, use logic, and actively perform other mental activities.

insight

Knowledge {insight, epistemology}| {intuition, epistemology} can be feelings based on general background, culture, past experience, and present context. Brains can suddenly perceive relations between two statements, stimuli, features, objects, or events, after experience with both objects. Insights are deductions from knowledge, rely on previous experiences with objects and events, and require ordering statements and steps into processes. Minds can perceive or conceive certain self-evident truths, abstract objects, space, or time, without using sensations or perceptions. People can decide without conscious thinking.

personal experience

Knowledge {personal experience} can be personal perceptions and actions, obtained by travel, participation, and observation.

revelation as reference

Knowledge {revelation, knowledge}| {faith, knowledge} can be belief in received knowledge, knowledge supposedly sent from god. People can feel insight into profound truth. Mental stress or relaxation can suppress mental activity and so inhibit questioning and doubting.

testimony as reference

People can attest to their perceptions and self-observations {testimony, epistemology}|.

tradition as reference

Knowledge {tradition, knowledge}| {custom} can be conformity with established culture behaviors and beliefs.