How can we distinguish between knowledge, belief & opinion

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The equation of the special theory of relativity explains the specifications of the law of gravity and its relation to other real-life phenomena. The theory forms the basis of most curriculums in theoretical physics, even in my high school coursework. This object links to the IA prompt, as it demonstrates characteristics of Knowledge - which can be defined as an objective fact that is verifiable and carries itself with a powerful sense of certitude. The theory of relativity offers applications seen in the world around us, from the functioning of televisions to the explanations of black holes, suggesting the pursuit is encouraged by offering explanations regarding the world around us.

 

The theory of special relativity was postulated in 1905, which prompted the development of the mathematical explanation of the general theory of relativity by 1916, signifying that the Knowledge constructed was employed in the acquisition of new facts; moreover, explanations of Einstein's theory superseded Newtonian Mechanics. The attribute of a scientific theory to be able to be ascertained false 2 based on new evidence is known as falsifiability, which is essential to the characterization of a conviction to be Knowledge. Falsifiability results in the requirement of a conviction to be justified by well constructed 3 logical pathways such as experimentation and proofs, indicating the method of existence among contending perspectives, which is seen by the ability of the theory to be proved by experimentation.

 

Hence, the theory is considered Knowledge as it follows a logical methodology to prove its explanations which are blacked by evidence applicable to real-life phenomena. In contrast, when considering belief and opinion, it is seen that the theory is not an independent sentiment or prediction based on ideological values. This object was chosen as it justifies the characteristic assigned to Knowledge.

The Unabomber manifesto, an essay by Ted Kaczynski, former math professor turned domestic terrorist, traverses the 'disastrous' effects of the industrial revolution and technology on human autonomy. The object links to the IA prompt, as it evinces the characteristics of Opinion. An Opinion is an amalgamation of an individual's perspectives. It is inherently subjective as it is based on life experiences - impacted by personal knowledge, and offers deficient certitude.

 

While providing evidence for its conclusions, Kaczynski's essay is troubled with illusory correlations. Most of the essay is an ad hominem attack or genetic fallacy, as it resorts to directly attacking groups of people based on origin to support its conclusion. The manifesto treatment of leftists as victims of psychological tendencies such as ''feelings of inferiority", "oversocialization," or "masochism" alludes to this fallacy. The psychological claims made for these justifications are unsupported by research and academia. It also goes on to prompt the system of technological dependence is abhorrent, and hence needs to end, per a moral obligation. This argument is not sound, as just because a system is abhorrent, it does not mean we need to annihilate an entire population on its basis. His findings also have very low certitude, as it is the personal 5 Opinion of a singular person, which is not likely to fit in with the shared knowledge database of communities.

 

Hence, we see the essay is characterized as Opinion, as it is the conviction of a single person based on interpretation of personal knowledge and is not justified by logical evidence. In contrast, it is not the conviction of a community or a fact proven by logical explanation, and hence is not belief and knowledge. The object was chosen as it explores the characteristics of an opinion while offering the deposition of scientific fact.

The Natal chart suggests that a chart indicating the position of planets at the time of an individual's birth can be used to determine an individual's personality. The natal chart is an extensive depiction of Indian culture, where it is used to clinch the compatibility of two people for fixing an arranged marriage. The object links to the prompt as it illustrates the complex nature of Belief - high certitude subjective conviction held by a community based on the impacts of shared knowledge on a person.

 

Natal charts are subjective as any methods and tools cannot verify the influence of a planet on a person's life. However, people hold their convictions firmly and do not necessarily require evidence. The state of believing, here, is a product of confirmation bias, where justification is found by correlation of illusory factors and is usually formed at the point of childhood, by observing information from family members boosting our own confidence in its justification, suggesting high certitude, in the face of contrasting evidence by the existence of knowledge filter bubbles. The subjectivity of belief can be shown by differences in the treatment of zodiac predictions in cultures worldwide. While certain western cultures may view it absurd, Asian cultures believe it to be a hallmark component of their knowledge economies. When considering methods and tools, there is subjectivity there, too, as different experts interpret the same chart differently.Hence, the natal chart is characterized as a belief, not verifiable by logical proofs, as communities share its conviction, making it certitude high. In contrast, it is not the conviction of a single person or a fact proven by logical explanation and hence is not opinion and knowledge. The object is included in the exhibition, as it allows us to analyze the nature of belief.

 

Hence we can distinguish between Knowledge, Belief, and Opinion by analyzing the characteristics and purpose each holds and how they differ. A conviction is at first an explanation of an aspect of reality, where knowledge is an objectively verifiable fact with a powerful sense of certitude, Opinion an amalgamation of an individual's perspectives offering deficient certitude, and lastly, Belief a high certitude subjective conviction held by a community.

“Criterion of Falsifiability | Philosophy of Science | Britannica.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 2021, www.britannica.com/topic/criterion-of-falsifiability. Accessed 14 Jul. 2021.

 

Deaton, Jeremy. “Einstein Showed Newton Was Wrong about Gravity. Now Scientists Are Coming for Einstein.” NBC News, NBC News, 3 Aug. 2019, www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/einstein-showed-newton-was-wrong-about-gravity-now-scientists- are-ncna1038671. Accessed 14 Jul. 2021.

 

“Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity | American Museum of Natural History.” American Museum of Natural History, 2012, www.amnh.org/exhibitions/einstein/energy. Accessed 14 Jul. 2021.

 

“Free Birth Chart, Astrology Online | Astro-Seek.com.” Astro-Seek.com, 2021, https://horoscopes.astro-seek.com/birth-chart-horoscope-online. Accessed 14 Jul. 2021.

 

“Industrial Society and It’s Future--the Unabomber Manifesto, by Ted Kaczynski : Theodore John Kaczynski : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming  -  Internet Archive.” Internet Archive, 19 Sept. 1995, https://archive.org/details/Unabomber-Manifesto-Industrial-Society-And-Its-Future. Accessed 14 Jul. 2021.

 

Ludlow, Peter. “What Can We Learn from the Unabomber?: Nothing.” Slideshare.net, 2013, www.slideshare.net/urizenus/unabomber-presentation. Accessed 14 Jul. 2021.