Grobler on Truth and the Social Nature of Cognition Cover Image

Grobler o prawdzie i o społecznej naturze poznania
Grobler on Truth and the Social Nature of Cognition

Author(s): Wojciech Sady
Subject(s): Epistemology
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Wrocławskiego
Keywords: truth; scientific knowledge; presuppositions; thought collective; thought style;

Summary/Abstract: I agree with many of Adam Grobler’s theses, but several others raised my objection. (1) A.G. does not want to call scientific claims true. It is not so: very much of what scientists say about the world is true (in the classic sense), and scientists know it is. (2) A.G. leads us astray when he writes that the acceptance or rejection of hypotheses is determined, at least sometimes, by expert votes. It is not so: further research is the decisive factor in accepting or rejecting hypotheses in science. (3) While A.G. is aware of some social determinants of knowledge, he ultimately states: “individuals are the subjects of scientific knowledge.” Contrary to this, I argue that one can only be a scientist as a member of a scientific thought collective. (4) A.G. believes that scientific knowledge is based on presuppositions, accepted unconsciously, that give meaning to statements made openly. After Wittgenstein, I repeat: “After all, nothing is concealed.”

  • Issue Year: 17/2022
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 15-23
  • Page Count: 9
  • Language: Polish