Compare and contrast the approach to knowledge about the past with our approach to knowledge about the future

Galileo’s heliocentric theory that the sun is the centre of the universe is common knowledge.Based on this knowledge we believe that it was like that yesterday, will be today, as well as tomorrow. The first question one needs to ask is that of; how does the access to knowledge about the past differ from the approach to knowledge about what is going to happen? Does our approach to knowledge about the past and the future need to be based on the presence of evidence? For the purpose of being able to evaluate these questions one must focus on various areas of knowledge, such as history, natural science and mathematics. Furthermore, one must evaluate these on the criteria of emotion, perception, language and emotion.
There is a variety of ways on how to approach knowledge such as truth, context, evidence and methodology. Both, the approach to knowledge about the past and the future have to be approached in a different way. First of all, one must consider the fact that the knowledge about the past focuses on events that have already happened before and thus cannot be changed, while future is still to come and therefore unknown.
For the approach to the past there is enough evidence that we can rely on, such as history books, diaries, hieroglyphs, buildings, sculptures etc. However, what will history be without all these sources? Would we then have any approach to the past at all?
With no evidence there would be no approach to the past. However, the eldest of our community were and will always be a source of knowledge about the past. Just like my grandfather always likes to tell me how bad the living conditions under the Communist rule in Poland were. However, one must take into consideration that the information that we receive is limited and biased. This takes place as mostly my grandfather passes the information from the past in a subjective way. This knowledge is based only on what he has experienced and his personal emotions that evolve around those events. So how can I rely on knowledge about the past? When approaching the knowledge about the past, we always have to question the validity of the evidence.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Knowledge About the Past and the Future
• Access to Knowledge about the Past and the Future
• Evidence and Knowledge About the Past
• Oral Knowledge and Authority
• Limitations in the Approach to the Past
• Ethics, Culture, and Knowledge About the Past
• Mathematics and Knowledge About the Past
• Mathematics and Knowledge About the Future
• Modern Science and Falsification
• Personal Predictions and Future Planning
• Religious Beliefs and the Future
• Emotional Approach to the Future

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This text explores the differences and similarities in our approach to knowledge about the past and the future. It investigates the role of evidence, emotion, language, and methodology in understanding both temporal perspectives. The analysis delves into the challenges and limitations of obtaining and verifying knowledge in each case.

• The nature of knowledge about the past and the future
• The role of evidence and its limitations
• The influence of language, culture, and personal experience
• The use of mathematics and scientific methodologies
• The limitations of prediction and the impact of uncertainty

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• The text starts by comparing and contrasting the approach to knowledge about the past with our approach to knowledge about the future. It raises the question of how access to knowledge about the past differs from the approach to knowledge about the future and whether our approach to knowledge about both needs to be based on evidence.
• The author discusses the importance of evidence in understanding the past, citing examples such as history books, diaries, and archeological findings. However, they also acknowledge the limitations of such evidence, highlighting issues of bias, subjectivity, and the possibility of information loss.
• The text explores the reliability of oral knowledge passed down through generations, noting the potential for bias and subjectivity. The author uses the example of propaganda and censorship in the Soviet Union to illustrate how historical knowledge can be manipulated.
• The author examines the challenges of accessing and interpreting knowledge about the past, highlighting the limitations imposed by language, culture, and ethical considerations. They discuss how different perspectives, such as the Big Bang Theory and Christian creationism, offer contrasting interpretations of historical events.
• The text explores the use of mathematics in gaining knowledge about the past and the future. The author discusses how mathematical models can be used to calculate population growth rates and make predictions about future trends, but also acknowledges the limitations of such methods in addressing social and unpredictable factors.
• The author analyzes the role of falsification in scientific progress, referencing Karl Popper's theory. They argue that the rejection of established laws and theories contributes to the development of science and technology.
• The text examines personal predictions and future planning, acknowledging the limitations of human foresight. The author discusses the impact of religious beliefs on individual perspectives of the future, emphasizing the role of hope and comfort in addressing the uncertainty of life after death.
• Finally, the author explores the emotional approach to the future, suggesting that intuition and instinct can play a role in shaping our perceptions and actions. They recognize the limitations of this approach while acknowledging its potential for influencing our decisions.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This text focuses on key concepts such as knowledge acquisition, evidence, methodology, past, future, uncertainty, prediction, language, culture, emotion, mathematics, science, and falsification. It also explores the impact of historical events, societal structures, and individual beliefs on our understanding of time and the world around us.

Details

• Course: theory of knowledge
• Grade: 2,0
• Author: Anonym (Author)
• Publication Year: 2006
• Pages: 9
• Catalog Number: V1278292
• ISBN (eBook): 9783346734839
• Language: English
• Tags: knowledge past future history