Introduction to Western Epistemology

About Course
Western philosophy comprises many broad areas such as epistemology, ontology, ethics, and aesthetics. This course focuses on epistemology. We begin by discussing two prominent theories called Rationalism and Empiricism. Since both theories failed in different ways, we will then discuss the attempts to combine them in Foundationalism and Coherentism, and why those combinations also did not work. Finally, we will discuss how the above collective failures led 20th-century philosophy to doctrines called Pragmatism, Operationalism, and Instrumentalism, which make knowledge a pathway to developing technology, solving the day-to-day problems of life, but not necessarily true. We take a historical approach to epistemology discussing the sequence of problems, their anticipated solutions, and their eventual collapse.
Course Content
The Fundamental Problem of Knowledge
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Truth vs. Evidence
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Western vs. Indian Epistemology Differences
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Assumptions of Western Epistemology
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The Theory of Consciousness