Know Better, Do Better: Epistemology + Knowledge Management
How do you know that you know what you think you know? How do you know that your sources of information are trustworthy and accurate? How do you know that your methods of reasoning and problem-solving are sound and effective? How do you know that your arguments and explanations are clear and convincing?
These are all epistemological questions that challenge your assumptions and beliefs about knowledge. And they are not easy to answer. Philosophers have been philosophizing about the nature, sources, and limits of knowledge since Plato was around in the late fourth century BCE.
If you only know one thing about philosophy, it is probably this: “I think; therefore, I am”. Whether you agree with Descartes foundational claim that your thoughts prove your existence or not, isn’t it interesting that the most common philosophical statement is deeply epistemological in nature?
Big epistemological questions may seem abstract in daily life, but they are actually very important and practical. Epistemology can help you improve your critical thinking, decision making, and communication skills in your career and beyond. It can also provide helpful frameworks for how we think about modern day knowledge management.
Let's explore some basic concepts and principles of epistemology that can help you become a better knower and identify ways that each of these methods might have pitfalls for your organization's knowledge management strategy.
Rationalism: The view that reason is the primary source of knowledge, and that we can have innate or a priori knowledge of certain truths without relying on experience. More info on rationalism.
Prominent thinkers: Plato, Descartes, Leibniz, Kant
A rationalist approach to knowledge management Characterized by a strong emphasis on reason, logic, and innate ideas as the primary sources of knowledge. It would involve fostering an intellectual culture that values deep thinking, logical analysis, and the pursuit of truth through rational means. What to watch out for: Rationalists may fall into the trap of deductionism, which is the tendency to rely exclusively on deductive reasoning and logic to acquire and justify knowledge. Deductionism may lead to a loss of innovation, creativity, and progress in knowledge management, and may also result in a failure to account for or address the reality and complexity of the world.
What to watch out for: Rationalists may neglect the role and significance of empirical evidence and observation in knowledge acquisition and justification, and may also result in a disregard for the diversity and variability of human experience and knowledge
Skepticism: The view that we cannot have certain or reliable knowledge of anything, because our beliefs are always subject to doubt or error. More info on skepticism.
Prominent thinkers: Phrrho, Montaigne, Sextus Empiricus
A skeptics approach to knowledge management: Characterized by a strong emphasis on doubt, suspension, inquiry, comparison, reflection, and skeptical scenarios as the main tools for evaluating knowledge claims. It would involve fostering a critical culture that values skepticism as a way of seeking truth and avoiding error.
What to watch out for: Skeptics may fall into the trap of over-skepticism, which is the tendency to apply doubt and challenge to any claim to knowledge, even when there is sufficient and appropriate evidence or reason to support it. Over-skepticism may lead to a distortion or omission of relevant facts, perspectives, and evidence, and may also result in a false sense of superiority or infallibility in knowledge.
Foundationalism: The view that knowledge is structured like a building, with some basic beliefs that are self-evident or infallible, and other derived beliefs that are justified by the basic ones. More info on foundationalism.
Prominent thinkers: Locke, Aquinas, Russell
A foundationalist approach to knowledge management: Characterized by a strong emphasis on basic beliefs, direct evidence, logical inference, knowledge structure, and knowledge evaluation as the main components of knowledge acquisition and justification. It would involve fostering a rational culture that values certainty, clarity, and coherence in knowledge. What to watch out for: Foundationalists may fall into the trap of isolationism, which is the tendency to ignore or dismiss the role and significance of non-basic beliefs in knowledge management. Isolationism may lead to a neglect of the value of coherence, explanation, and inference in knowledge acquisition and justification, and may also result in a disregard for the ethical and social implications of knowledge production and application.
What to watch out for: Underdetermination may lead foundationalists to lack innovation, creativity, and progress in knowledge management, and may also result in a resistance to new information or challenges that could improve or expand their knowledge
Coherentism: The view that knowledge is structured like a web, with no privileged beliefs, but rather a system of beliefs that are mutually supportive and consistent. More info on coherentism.
Prominent thinkers: Hegel, Blanshard, BonJour
A coherent approach to knowledge management: Characterized by a strong emphasis on coherence, mutual support, testing, comparison, revision, and justification as the main features of knowledge acquisition and evaluation. It would involve fostering a holistic culture that values coherence as a way of seeking truth and avoiding error.
What to watch out for: Coherentists may fall into the trap of conservatism, which is the preference for maintaining the status quo and avoiding change or revision in their system of beliefs. Conservatism may lead to a lack of innovation, creativity, and progress in knowledge management, and may also result in a resistance to new information or challenges that could improve or expand their knowledge.
Pragmatism: The view that knowledge is not a static or objective state, but a dynamic and subjective process that depends on our practical goals and interests. More info on pragmatism
Prominent thinkers: Peirce, James, Dewey, and Rorty
A pragmatic approach to knowledge management: Characterized by a strong emphasis on usefulness, action, experience, problem-solving, collaboration, and communication as the main features of knowledge acquisition and application. It would involve fostering a practical culture that values knowledge as a way of seeking improvement and innovation.
What to watch out for: Pragmatists may fall into the trap of instrumentalism, which is the view that knowledge is only a tool or a means to an end, and that its value depends solely on its usefulness or effectiveness. Instrumentalism may lead to a neglect of the intrinsic value of knowledge, such as its beauty, elegance, or creativity, and may also result in a disregard for the ethical and social implications of knowledge production and application.
At the end of the day, epistemology is not just a theoretical topic for philosophers. It is a practical skill for anyone who wants to learn more, think better, and communicate smarter. By investigating how you know things, you can improve how you know things. And by improving how you know things; you can achieve more in your career and life. If you’d like to learn more about how good #knowledgemangement can help you improve how you know things, check out my website MandeeBarrett.com
