Philosopher's Zone Knowing what things are like
Feb 12, 2025
Yuri Kath, a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at La Trobe University and author of "Knowing What It Is Like," dives into the complexities of experiential knowledge. He questions whether true understanding of feelings, like love or childbirth, requires firsthand experience. The discussion includes tiers of 'what it’s like' knowledge and the ethical nuances of representing life experiences in literature. Kath also examines how virtual reality can create empathy, while probing the limits of these simulators in conveying real emotions.
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Lewis and Vegemite
- David Lewis refused to taste Vegemite, prioritizing a philosophical example.
- He used Vegemite to illustrate the experience condition for knowledge.
Answer Condition
- Knowing what it's like involves knowing the answer to "What is it like?".
- This "answer condition" contrasts with the experience condition.
Tension Between Conditions
- The experience and answer conditions create tension regarding knowledge acquisition.
- Can testimony or books provide what-it's-like knowledge without experience?
