Gettier Problem

Definition

The Gettier Problem is a philosophical issue that challenges the traditional definition of knowledge as justified true belief. It presents scenarios where a person has a belief that is true and justified, yet intuitively does not seem to constitute knowledge due to luck or coincidence. This problem raises important questions about skepticism and the nature of justification in knowing something.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Gettier Problem was introduced by philosopher Edmund Gettier in 1963 through short thought experiments that show situations where justified true belief fails to capture what we typically consider knowledge.
2. One classic example involves someone who sees a clock showing the correct time and believes it's 3:00 PM; however, unbeknownst to them, the clock is stopped and they are lucky that it's actually 3:00 PM.
3. The problem suggests that there are cases where people can have justified beliefs that happen to be true but are coincidentally so, indicating a flaw in the justified true belief theory.
4. The Gettier Problem has led philosophers to propose alternative theories of knowledge, which seek to resolve how justification should be understood to avoid such counterexamples.
5. This issue has implications for discussions around skepticism, as it challenges how we understand justification and whether we can ever truly claim to know something in light of these scenarios.

Review Questions

• How does the Gettier Problem challenge the traditional definition of knowledge as justified true belief?
  • The Gettier Problem challenges the traditional definition by presenting cases where a person's belief is justified and true but still fails to count as knowledge due to the role of luck or coincidence. For example, if someone sees a stopped clock showing the correct time and believes it is 3:00 PM based on this observation, their belief is true and justified yet intuitively does not represent actual knowledge. This reveals that mere justification and truth may not be sufficient for claiming knowledge.
• Discuss how the Gettier Problem relates to skepticism regarding knowledge claims.
  • The Gettier Problem connects deeply with skepticism by highlighting how our understanding of justification may be inadequate in establishing certain knowledge claims. If one can have justified true beliefs that fail to count as knowledge due to coincidences, it raises doubts about whether we can truly justify what we claim to know. This leads to further exploration of skepticism and pushes philosophers to consider more robust definitions or conditions for knowledge that could withstand these challenges.
• Evaluate the impact of the Gettier Problem on contemporary epistemology and theories of knowledge.
  • The impact of the Gettier Problem on contemporary epistemology has been profound, prompting significant re-evaluations of what constitutes knowledge beyond justified true belief. Philosophers have sought alternative definitions and solutions, such as adding a fourth condition to account for luck or proposing contextualist approaches. The ongoing discussions around this problem continue to shape modern theories of knowledge, inviting deeper analysis into justification, belief formation, and our understanding of certainty in various contexts.

Related terms

Justified True Belief: A traditional model of knowledge that states for someone to know a proposition, it must be true, the person must believe it, and they must have justification for that belief.

Skepticism:

The philosophical view that doubts or questions the possibility of certain or absolute knowledge, often leading to an inquiry into what justifies our beliefs.

Epistemology:

The branch of philosophy that studies the nature, origin, and limits of knowledge, including the criteria for what constitutes justified beliefs.