more from Dougherty,T/Rysiew,P

Single Idea 19542

[catalogued under 11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 2. Understanding]

Full Idea

The proposition that understanding does not involve knowledge is widespread (for example, in discussions of what philosophy aims at), but hardly withstands scrutiny. If you do not know how a jet engine works, you do not understand how it works.

Gist of Idea

It is nonsense that understanding does not involve knowledge; to understand, you must know

Source

Dougherty,T/Rysiew,P (Experience First (and reply) [2014], p.24)

Book Reference

'Contemporary Debates in Epistemology (2nd ed)', ed/tr. Steup/Turri/Sosa [Wiley Blackwell 2014], p.24


A Reaction

This seems a bit disingenuous. As in 'Theaetetus', knowing the million parts of a jet engine is not to understand it. More strongly - how could knowledge of an infinity of separate propositional truths amount to understanding on their own?

Related Ideas

Idea 19541 Rather than knowledge, our epistemic aim may be mere true belief, or else understanding and wisdom [Dougherty/Rysiew]

Idea 19543 To grasp understanding, we should be more explicit about what needs to be known [Dougherty/Rysiew]