Science can be classified as a way of knowing, meaning an avenue for generating knowledge. Ways of knowing, or epistemologies in the literature, encompasses all answers to the question, how do you know? For example, when asked what time is dinner? One might say 6:30pm. When asked how you know that one might say my mom told me. In this case, knowledge is generated verbally as discourse occurs between people.
While discussing other ways of knowing in my education philosophy class, I heard a story about an outsider’s experience in a farming community in South America. This outside gained the trust of a particular farmer, enough so that the farmer revealed to this outsider what they know and how they know it. This farmer knew that the upcoming season would be a good one. Not because of any weather report, farmer’s almanac, or outside knowledge, but because the gnomes told him.
I do not believe in gnomes; therefore, I do not believe this farmer engaged in a dialogue with a mythological creature. So how does one resolve this conflict in knowledge. This farmer must feel justified in their statement, simply because it was genuine. Furthermore, I feel justified in my statement. So, do I disregard the farmer’s conviction, labeling them as naive, simple, or idiotic? No, jumping to conclusions would be antithetical to authentic praxis, in the Freirean sense of the word.
One consideration, yet unexplored, is language. Words, depending on who speaks, and in what context, take on different meaning. I do not exactly know what ‘gnome’ means in this context. Gnome may not be a physical entity as a western mind may interpret but may be some other physical manifestation which communicates the nature of that year’s harvest. Possibly it is the visible fruiting of fungi, or the release of a trees seeds, or some other thing. Or maybe it is not a physical entity, but a spiritual or mental one.
Perhaps you are thinking, why I am entertaining the possibility the farmer has gain justification for his beliefs? Well because I do not believe this farmer saw a gnome, but I believe that this farmer is genuine in his conviction. Therefore, there must be some justification for the farmer’s statement.
I cannot help but think of religion. I see no justification for the belief in a god. However, others do. How shall I resolve this conflict of knowledge?
JLS