What Is Knowledge? How Do We Know Anything?
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What does it mean to know something?
We often say things like “I know this is true,” but philosophy asks a deeper question: what separates knowledge from mere belief? If someone believes something that happens to be true, is that already knowledge — or is something more required?
In this meetup we will explore some of the central questions of epistemology, the philosophical study of knowledge:
- What is the difference between belief, truth, and knowledge?
- Do we need justification in order to know something?
- Can we ever be certain about anything?
- Could we be radically mistaken about the world — dreaming, deceived, or living in a perfect illusion?
- Is it possible that knowledge itself might be impossible?
Philosophical skepticism raises the unsettling possibility that we might never truly know anything at all. If all our beliefs could in principle be mistaken, what would count as genuine knowledge?
We may also briefly discuss famous philosophical puzzles, such as the Gettier problem, which challenges the traditional definition of knowledge as justified true belief.
No prior knowledge of philosophy is required. The goal is not to reach final answers but to explore the problem together through open discussion.
Bring your curiosity — and perhaps a few things you think you know.
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