A concept called “epistemology” which refers to the idea of “how we know anything”.

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In week one, we are discussing a concept called “epistemology” which refers to the idea of “how we know anything”. Knowing matters because without knowledge, we can’t make decisions and take actions. Then, the question becomes “how do we now anything?” The most popular theory we use in modern times is the phrase “Esse est Percipi” which roughly translates to “the most important thing in the world, to know anything, is to see it, to perceive it…”. In other words, “Seeing is believing”. But is it? Is seeing and perceiving the only way to gain knowledge about the world? If all our knowledge of the world comes from only the senses (e.g., seeing, hearing, touching), what about things like human intuition, instinct and even even sensing energy? In fact, think about when we talk to people how much information is gained from actual words versus the “feel” you get from another person’s energy? At any rate, plese view the following two videos and respond to the questions as well a classmate.

Mueller – Lyer Illusion (Video 1)

Solomon Asch Conformity Experiment

 

1. What does the Mueller-Lyer line experiment tell us about the influence of our own perceptional biases?

2. What does the Solomon-Asch experiment tell us about how society and peer pressure can change our perception?

3. Is “Seeing is believing” always true? Are there other ways we can attain knowledge about the world that are just as dependable but they are not accepted by society? What are your thoughts and pleas respond to a classmate

 

Sample Solution

The videos you shared explore the limitations of the phrase “seeing is believing” and highlight the role of perception and social influence in shaping our understanding of the world.

  1. Mueller-Lyer Illusion: This experiment demonstrates how our brains interpret visual information and can be influenced by surrounding elements. The lines appear different lengths due to the arrowheads and tails, even though they are physically the same size. This illusion reveals that our perception is not a simple reflection of reality, but rather an interpretation based on past experiences and learned patterns.

  2. Solomon Asch Conformity Experiment: This experiment showcases the power of social pressure on individual perception. Even when participants knew the correct answer, they sometimes conformed to the incorrect responses of the majority group. This highlights how our desire to belong and avoid social rejection can influence how we interpret information and even alter our reported perceptions.

  3. Seeing vs. Other Ways of Knowing: “Seeing is believing” is a limited perspective. Here are some other ways we gain knowledge:

    • Reasoning and Logic: We can analyze information and draw logical conclusions, even without direct sensory experience.
    • Testimony and Evidence: We rely on the knowledge of others and established evidence to learn about the world beyond our immediate perception.
    • Intuition and Emotion: Intuition can guide us towards solutions or provide gut feelings about situations. Emotions can also play a role in how we interpret information.

These alternative ways of knowing can be just as dependable as sight, but they may not be universally accepted. Intuition, for example, can be subjective and influenced by personal biases.

Responding to a Classmate:

I’m curious to hear your thoughts on the videos. Did either experiment surprise you? In your experience, have you encountered situations where social pressure or intuition influenced your perception? It would be interesting to explore how these concepts play out in real-world scenarios.

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