Ways of Knowing

Because the Ways of Knowing are processes or activities so natural to students, their problematic aspects, worthy of reflection, do not come readily to conscious or critical attention. The senses, through perception, seemingly provide a window on the world as it really is, and the emotions have seldom been viewed as an integral aspect of human awareness and intelligence. Additionally, the acquisition of a first language occurs so easily for most people, and communication with others is so effortless, that the influence of language in shaping thought is seldom noticed. Finally, the appeal of a well-constructed argument can be sensed even without any formal training in logic or other forms of reasoning.

1. Perception

He who has been bitten by a snake fears a piece of string. (Persian proverb)

Because perception is the active, selective and interpretative process of recording or becoming conscious of the external world through sense experience, this experience should be examined and critically evaluated in order to become aware of the nature and power of perception, and how it relates to knowledge acquisition and knowledge claims, and its role in our attempts to make sense of the world.

A. Nature of Perception

•  In what ways does the biological constitution of a living organism determine, influence or limit its perception?

•  If humans are sensitive only to certain ranges of stimuli, what consequences, including limitations, might this have for the acquisition of knowledge?

•  How does technology extend and modify the capabilities of the senses?

B. Limitations of Perception

•  What is the role of culture and language in the perceptual process?

•  Given the partially subjective nature of perception, how can different knowers ever agree on what is perceived?

•  Do people with different cultural or linguistic backgrounds live, in some sense, in different worlds?

•  How, and to what extent, might expectations, assumptions and beliefs affect perceptions?

•  How, if at all, can factors which bias views of the world be recognized?

•  Is all perception necessarily theory-laden?

•  Do knowers have a moral duty to examine their own perceptual filters?

•  It is often claimed that information and communication technologies are blurring the traditional distinctions between simulation and reality. If this is so, what might be the consequences?

C. Linking Questions

a.      What is the role of perception in the various Areas of Knowledge?

b.      How does it differ across the disciplines?

c.      Is it more important in relation to some disciplines than others?

d.      Is there any knowledge which is completely independent of perception?

e.      Does perception perform fundamentally distinct functions in the arts and the sciences?

f.       To what extent is it true that the artist makes an advantage out of the subjective nature of perception while the scientist regards it as an obstacle to be overcome?