Queen's Philosophy Department Colloquium
4:00 PM 鈥� 6:30 PM
Michael Hannon (Queen鈥檚 University)
"What鈥檚 the Point of Understanding"
THURSDAY, February 2nd 2017
WATSON HALL, ROOM 517 @ 4:00 p.m.
What is human understanding and why should we care about it? I propose a method of philosophical investigation called 鈥榝unction-first epistemology鈥� and use this method to investigate the nature and value of understanding. I argue that the concept of understanding serves the practical function of identifying good explainers, which is an important role in the general economy of our concepts. This hypothesis sheds light on a variety of issues in the epistemology of understanding, including the role of explanation in understanding, the relationship between understanding and knowledge, and the value of understanding. I argue that understanding is valuable and yet knowledge plays a more important role in our epistemic life.
EVERYONE WELCOME
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