Philosophy of Being and Knowledge

Epistemology (Philosophy of Knowledge)

Conviction

It is essential to remember that knowledge is primarily conviction, even when it is proven and true. To know something means to be convinced of it. Ultimately, the task before proof is merely to transform one person's conviction into another's. When someone seeks to prove something, they do so to convince others of the truth of what they themselves believe to be true. Scholars write monographs, articles, and dissertations to persuade others of the validity of their beliefs. When a scholar puts pen to paper, they are convinced of something and wish for others to share that conviction. If they succeed in convincing others, they achieve their goal: their knowledge becomes the knowledge of the entire scholarly community.

The greatest challenge of conviction is its subjectivity. The same assertion may easily persuade one person while leaving another unmoved. At the moment of encountering new information, a person brings with them a vast reservoir of prior knowledge that will influence their reception of the new. It is far easier to convince someone if the new information aligns with what they already know, as it integrates into their existing system of knowledge; however, it is exceedingly difficult to convince someone of something that contradicts their current understanding, as accepting it would mean abandoning all that they previously knew. Similarly, it is easier to convince someone of what their surroundings already believe, and incredibly challenging to persuade them of what contradicts prevailing beliefs. The influence of one's environment, especially that of experts, plays a crucial role in persuasion. While it is impossible to account for all factors affecting the success of persuasion, neglecting them entirely renders persuasion wholly ineffective. Thus, knowledge comprises proven true conviction, and each of its three segments constitutes a distinct set of philosophical problems, the study of which will always remain at the heart of philosophy.