Goethe (a German writer and politician) once stated that knowledge increases confidence. What is knowledge? The term knowledge has been a topic philosophers have sought for centuries. According the modern definition of knowledge, facts, information, skills, and education are all that is required to understand a subject. Rene Descartes is a French philosopher and mathematician who is well-known for his unique approach to learning and acquiring knowledge. He doubted everything, asking himself whether the information is correct. Finally, he came to the conclusion that “cogito-ergo sum” translated into “I think therefore i am”. He can only be certain in his ability to think, and that he exists, so he can’t be sure he knows. This partly explains the expression “We can only be confident when we know very little, but doubt grows with knowledge.” This phrase states that confidence is a function of how much one knows. Confidence will drop if you have more knowledge. This could mean that you can be confident only in certain areas of knowledge and doubt all others. Descartes, a philosopher of great knowledge, is confident in one statement but doubts the rest.
Descartes’ philosophy of knowledge was the basis for modern science and philosophy. In it, he described knowledge in terms that could be doubted. Descartes separates factual and subjective knowledge (scientia) by saying that knowledge can only be based on one thing. Descartes used doubt to contrast with certainty. Descartes was unable to find certainty because of the increase in doubt. Since the dawn of Greek philosophy in Greece, doubt has been a key part of philosophy. The Sophists used doubt to discover knowledge. They also concluded that it was impossible to know for sure. They believed that knowledge could only come from our sense organs, which can be easily deceived. The universe is always changing and science can be deceived. History has proven Descartes’ claims to be true. His statements are best illustrated by the fact that once it was accepted that the earth was flat. Galileo Galilei was an Italian philosopher/astronomer who helped to accept the Copernican system of heliocentric orbits. This was contrary to the geocentric cosmology which was commonly accepted at that time. Copernican, heliocentric systems is a system that has the Sun as a center point. Other bodies orbit it. Galileo discovered that the Earth was a spherical, round shape after he used the telescope. The belief that the Earth is a flat-topped surface was popularized during the 16th-17th centuries. Even respected scientists at the time supported it. Galileo, who advocated the Copernican system of heliocentricity, was rebuked by society. This historical event is a proof of Descartes’s and Sophists’ belief that knowledge cannot always be trusted. It supports the claim that knowledge can be trusted only when it is little. Knowledge increases doubt. Many tribes and societies believed that Gods ran the world before Christ. As they gained more knowledge, the doubts and uncertainties that they experienced began to surface. The truth that was once accepted is now a theory or a possibility in the current moment.
The Church and Christianity have played an important role in history. It has been one the most powerful institutions for many centuries and is well-known for its abuse of power. The Catholic Church’s reign saw many crimes committed, from the burning of “witches”, to the cover-up of the rapes and mutilations of thousands of young children. Galileo Galilei is an example of a case in which the Church intervened in matters related to science. Jan Hus’s burning is a similar example. Hus was a Czech-Bohemian priest who was closely related to the Church. He was involved in Western Schism throughout his career (where there were three competing popes each with their own followers). Hus was already an iconic figure because of his relationship with the Church. Hus began to study philosophy and the Bible, realizing that humans are flawed by nature. The Church, being run by humans, should be also. Hus’ philosophy was seen as a threat by the Church. Hus was invited into the Council of Constance in order to stop this idea from spreading. Although he initially resisted, he accepted the offer of safe conduct. Hus was later imprisoned after he arrived. Blindly, the Church’s followers believed in the Church’s “knowledge”. Because they had sufficient information, no one could doubt the Church. As science improved and human knowledge increased, people began to question their beliefs. The Church lost its power, and it is now no longer an institution.
Philosophers, scientists, as well as researchers, have attempted to explain the state of ignorance. Sokrates explained that “I am wiser then this man” because neither one of us seems to know anything important or good. However, he pretends he does know something while he doesn’t know it. I don’t know anything so I don’t think I know. This trifling example, therefore, makes me appear wiser than him, since I don’t think I know what it is I don’t know.” is actually a prelude to what will be called the Dunning- Kruger Effect. Science has a reason that people who are not skilled or ignorant in a particular domain think they are more competent than they actually are. In the late 1990’s, Justin Kruger and David Dunning discovered that people with low competence are unable to accurately judge their competence and understand it. Their lower level is what causes them to have poor judgment and lack of awareness. This leads to them being unable to accurately analyze themselves, which can lead to overestimating their abilities.
The Dunning-Kruger Effect is a theory that people with lower competence levels tend to be more confident in their knowledge. However, Catholic Church members and other people who suppress knowledge seekers are not stupid. They are not in line with Goethe’s philosophy. These historical events show that the influential people are not incompetent, but their followers. People will not question what they don’t know. This makes it easier for them to control. These influencers filter what they see to ensure that they have control over the crowd. Many people are manipulated into believing they have the “knowledge and confidence” to make them feel better, while Jan Hus and Galileo leave the group. People begin to leave the group as the influencers lose control. The Catholic Church controlled a large portion of the population for centuries. This led to them believing that they knew all about it. As science advanced, their influence began to diminish and eventually they lost their position as a leading global power. Descartes’ philosophy is the best explanation of what most people accept today as knowledge philosophy. Many people agree that our ability to think is the reason we are alive. Some also accept other facts as knowledge. It is well known that all facts may change, but “I believe, therefore I’m” will stay.
