The Thomistic Institute What is Knowledge? | Prof. Tomas Bogardus
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Dec 19, 2024 In this engaging discussion, Tomas Bogardus, a philosopher with a diverse academic background, delves into profound questions about knowledge. He unpacks Aquinas's theories, emphasizing the distinction between true knowledge and mere belief. The conversation explores how we acquire knowledge through testimony and intuition, shedding light on mathematical truths and moral principles. Bogardus reflects on personal experiences that challenge our understanding of complex concepts like the equivalence of 1 and 0.999, while also examining the interplay of belief systems and moral truths.
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Aquinas on Perception
- Aquinas's view of perception involves phantasms, or mental images, formed by sensory input.
- Humans, unlike animals, can abstract universal forms from these phantasms using the 'active intellect'.
Cognitio vs. Notitia
- Aquinas distinguishes between cognitio, the apprehension of an object, and notitia, true belief with positive epistemic status.
- Cognitio can be false, while notitia requires successful apprehension of the object.
Gettier Cases and Aquinas
- Gettier cases involve true beliefs formed by luck, not knowledge according to Aquinas.
- True knowledge (notitia) requires the object of belief to explain the belief's formation.