5.5. Summary

The nature of knowledge has long been a central focus of philosophical inquiry, with Plato’s concept of “justified true belief” (JTB) offering a foundational framework. According to this model, knowledge is achieved through the interconnection of belief, truth, and justification. Belief represents a personal commitment to a proposition, truth reflects its alignment with reality, and justification provides the reasoning or evidence to support it. These elements create categories like blind faith (belief without justification) and knowledge (justified true beliefs). The term “knowledge” encompasses procedural, acquaintance, and propositional types, with propositional knowledge being most relevant to logical and empirical investigations. Propositions, declarative statements about the world, can be analytic (true by definition) or synthetic (requiring empirical justification). Empirical knowledge relies on sensory observation, while rational thought organises and interprets these observations to build a coherent understanding. As Immanuel Kant emphasised, rational thought and sensory experience work in tandem to transform raw data into meaningful knowledge. Facts emerge when propositions are sufficiently justified by evidence, distinguishing them from opinions, while hypotheses serve as testable claims that bridge observation and theory.

Knowledge acquisition is underpinned by five key approaches, each with its own strengths and limitations: intuition, authority, rationalism, empiricism, and the scientific method. Intuition, relying on gut feelings and pattern recognition, offers quick judgments but is susceptible to biases and errors. Authority, based on trusting experts, is efficient yet vulnerable to misinformation and misuse. Rationalism emphasises logical reasoning, which is powerful but dependent on the validity of its premises. Empiricism focuses on sensory observation and experience, forming the bedrock of scientific inquiry, though it can be constrained by individual perception and potential misinterpretation. The scientific method unites these approaches into a structured process, prioritising observation, experimentation, falsifiability, and replication to produce reliable, testable knowledge. While the method has limitations, such as addressing only empirical questions and requiring time-intensive processes, it remains an indispensable tool for advancing understanding and solving complex problems by integrating intuition, reasoning, and evidence.

Psychology, often questioned for its scientific status, shares the essential features of scientific inquiry present in disciplines like astronomy and biology: systematic empiricism, empirical focus, and a commitment to public knowledge. Using rigorous methods, psychology explores human behaviour, thought, and emotion, navigating challenges posed by the variability and complexity of its subject matter. This scientific approach separates psychology from pseudoscience, which lacks systematic evidence, falsifiability, and transparency. Pseudoscience, often cloaked in technical jargon, can have harmful consequences, highlighting the importance of critical thinking and adherence to scientific principles. Identifying and challenging pseudoscientific claims ensures that psychology maintains its credibility and commitment to evidence-based understanding.

At the heart of psychology is the drive to describe, predict, and explain human phenomena, fuelled by the same curiosity that has propelled knowledge and discovery across millennia. Unlike common sense or intuition, which often succumb to cognitive biases and inaccuracies, psychology employs the scientific method to uncover patterns and mechanisms governing human behaviour. It distinguishes between basic research, aimed at building foundational knowledge, and applied research, which addresses real-world problems. This distinction ensures that theoretical insights inform practical solutions and vice versa. Psychology also challenges persistent myths, like venting anger or the notion that humans use only 10% of their brains, using rigorous research to debunk such misconceptions. Through scepticism, empirical evidence, and a tolerance for uncertainty, psychologists refine and expand our understanding of human nature, surpassing the limitations of intuition and common sense to foster a more reliable and nuanced perspective on behaviour.