What we’re about
Welcome to the Syracuse Philosophy Meetup Group! It's a friendly club for people who want to think deeply about life and the world. No philosophical knowledge or experience is required, so don't hesitate to come and see what it's all about!
Our goals:
- Learn philosophy and use it try to understand the universe.
- Expose yourself to new ideas.
- Express your own opinions in a tolerant and relaxed atmosphere.
Upcoming events (2)
See all- What is Knowledge?Starbucks Oswego Rd Route 57, Liverpool, NY
In this session, let’s discuss one of the most fundamental questions in philosophy: What is genuine knowledge? Of all the things we can think, of all the stuff out there in the world, of all the truths of the universe, which, exactly, count as knowledge? This question is not at all irrelevant: questions about what counts as knowledge have driven important issues, from natural rights to the Scopes Monkey trial to modern day “fake news.”
Let’s contemplate this question together and see if we can arrive at a good definition. For some food for thought, I’m pointing you to a good chapter in Bertrand Russell’s short book The Problems of Philosophy. We’ll also discuss some other major philosophers who’ve had things to say about knowledge, including Descartes, Hume, and Kant (see below for a good site on Hume).
Russell:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KhBvYgU0avIwanThOPGf9D82JCABtLoVydp64vKihgI/edit?usp=sharing
or
https://www.ditext.com/russell/rus13.htmlNote: when he says “knowledge by acquaintance,” he’s referring to the direct “knowledge” you have from your immediate perceptions/sensations (ex. If I’m looking at my cat, I have “knowledge by acquaintance” about the color and shape of my cat, and maybe its smell, sounds, etc)
And here’s a good website on some of Hume’s ideas:
https://factmyth.com/humes-fork-explained/Happy Thinking!
