The Gettier problem is one of the most intriguing and controversial challenges in the philosophy of knowledge. Named after the American philosopher Edmund Gettier, this problem questions the traditional definition of knowledge as justified true belief. Gettier argued that it is possible to have a justified true belief but still not have knowledge. In this glossary, we will explore in detail what the Gettier problem is, its implications, and the different answers proposed by philosophers.
What is the Gettier problem?
The Gettier problem arises as a criticism of the traditional definition of knowledge. According to this definition, in order for a person to say that they know something, they must believe it, have adequate justification for this belief, and, furthermore, the belief must be true. However, Gettier presented hypothetical cases in which a person might have a justified true belief but still lack knowledge.
Examples of the Gettier problem
To better understand the Gettier problem, let's look at some examples. One of the most famous cases is known as “The Coin Case”. Imagine that John looks in his pocket and sees two coins. He believes there is a coin in his pocket, and in fact there is a coin in his pocket. Furthermore, John has a justification for this belief, as he felt the coin in his pocket. However, what João doesn't know is that there is another coin in his pocket, which means that his belief is true by chance, and not by adequate justification. Therefore, even if John correctly believes that there is a coin in his pocket, he has no knowledge.
Another example is known as “The case of the stopped clock”. Suppose Mary looks at a clock that is stopped at 10:00 and believes that it is 10:00. Furthermore, she has a justification for this belief, as she trusts the watch and has always seen it work correctly. However, the clock is stopped at exactly 10:00, which means her belief is true by chance rather than by adequate justification. Therefore, even if Mary correctly believes that it is 10:00, she has no knowledge.
Implications of the Gettier problem
The Gettier problem has profound implications for the theory of knowledge. It challenges the traditional view that knowledge is simply justified true belief. If cases like those presented by Gettier are possible, then the traditional definition is not sufficient to capture the complex nature of knowledge.
Furthermore, the Gettier problem also raises questions about the importance of luck and chance in knowledge. In the examples presented, the characters' true beliefs are accidental, that is, they are true by chance and not by adequate justification. This suggests that luck plays a significant role in obtaining knowledge, which goes against the traditional view that knowledge is the result of adequate justification.
Answers to the Gettier problem
Over the years, philosophers have proposed different answers to the Gettier problem. One of the most common approaches is the attempt to modify the traditional definition of knowledge. Some philosophers argue that it is necessary to add an additional condition to the definition, such as excluding cases of luck or requiring a causal connection between justification and true belief.
Another response is to attempt to reformulate the definition of justification. Some philosophers argue that justification needs to be more than just an adequate reason to believe something. They propose that justification must be a reason that is in some way connected to the truth of the belief.
Furthermore, some philosophers argue that the Gettier problem shows that the traditional definition of knowledge is incorrect and that we need to abandon that definition altogether. They propose alternative approaches, such as the causal theory of knowledge or the contextualist theory of knowledge.
Conclusion
The Gettier problem is a fascinating challenge for the theory of knowledge. It questions the traditional definition of knowledge as justified true belief and raises questions about the importance of luck and chance in knowledge. Philosophers have proposed different responses to deal with this problem, from modifying the traditional definition to adopting alternative approaches. The discussion around the Gettier problem continues to be a central topic in the philosophy of knowledge and promises to continue generating debates and reflections.
