How do you know things that you are certain you know? You may have a strong believe
in a god, but how can you be certain that god exists? Perhaps you know for certain that
you are love with your partner, but how are you to know what love truly is? How do we
know what is real? Questions such as these are the basis of epistemology. Commonly
referred to as knowledge theory, epistemology examines Western assumptions and
explore variations of them by posing the question "how do we know?". As human
beings we are far to accepting ideas and beliefs that are presented to us be it by or
parents, our friends, our society, or even our teachers. We accept the beliefs presented
to us so much so that we embrace them and hold them as our own, we are conditioned to
do so. I have been taught from a young age to identify a firm, red fruit by its appropriate
title "apple". Similarly, I have been taught that any knowledge obtained by the senses is
in essence "real". For example I know that the keyboard that I am typing on
exists, that it is, in essence, "real". I am able to come to this conclusion through the use of
my senses, I am able to touch the keyboard as well as see it, therefore, it must exist.
"Philosophers agree that deciding how we know is a critical preliminary to attaining what
we know. In other words, the basis of our knowledge provides its justification."
Richard Linklater's film "Waking Life" is accurately illustrates such a philosophies.
Waking Life revolves around the life of the main character. Wiley who is
Dreaming. While dreaming Willy meets many different individuals each with their own
unique philosophies. Through out the movie Willy is confronted with many problems,
particularly that he is unable to wake up from his dreams. Each attempt made to wake
from a dream Wiley simply enters into another. This s...