Re: Knowledge vs. Belief LO2629

lifvendahl thomas (p60tal1@corn.cso.niu.edu)
Wed, 30 Aug 1995 09:19:43 -0500 (CDT)

Replying to LO2612 --

On Tue, 29 Aug 1995, JOHN N. WARFIELD wrote:

> A variety of contributions to this list have collectively spurred me to
> bring up a topic that I will call "knowledge versus belief".
> Closely allied with this are questions related to "truth".
>
> I propose to you that knowledge is depersonalized belief. Further that
> by depersonalizing belief to get the concept of knowledge, we replace a
> genuine concept--belief--with an artificial concept--knowledge.
>
> I propose to you further that truth is depersonalized conviction.
> Further that truth is inevitable belief, where there is no time limit on
> the inevitability.
>
> If these ideas are interesting to you, I recommend that you read PEIRCE
> ON SIGNS, James Hoopes, Ed., U of No Carolina Press, 1991.
>
> John Warfield
> Jwarfiel@gmu.edu

Just to add to the discourse---Jack Gould listed on the Peirce list a
consensual definition of truth (1/16/95) that read: "TRUTH is the
potentiality of reducing the totality of the concepts about reality to
the unity of a proposition, agreed upon by an infinite community of
researchers applying, without restriction, a universal method of
investigation". Thus one can suggest that TRUTH tends to exist when those
who methodically seek it agree that "it" exists.

KNOWLEDGE seems to me to be inexorably linked to the mix of perceptions
that humans define existence by. Belief about what is "real", what is
"factual" about a perception, the "opinions" we each hold about the world
around us are all part of our individual "knowledge". Corporate
"knowledge" to me is not neutral. I would suggest that it seems to be
imposed on employees every day. Who does the imposition and why should also
be addressed in any discussion of "knowledge production" in
organizational development.

--
Thomas A. Lifvendahl
Northern Illinois University
RE/ACE Office
DeKalb, Illinois 60115
815/753-1621
P60TAL1@corn.cso.niu.edu