What is Knowledge?
What is the general definition of knowledge in epistemology?
Knowledge is the fact or condition of being aware of something, or the familiarity gained through experience.
Which philosopher argued that knowledge is linked to the realization of non-duality, where the self (Atman) and ultimate reality (Brahman) are one?
Shankara (Advaita Vedanta)
Which philosopher believed that reality exists independently of our perceptions, but our knowledge of it is shaped by cultural and conceptual systems?
Kwasi Wiredu
How does Wiredu’s African epistemology view knowledge in relation to cultural values and communal practices?
Knowledge is rooted in the social, cultural, and communal context, and is shaped by language, customs, and shared values.
Which philosopher advocates for the experience of direct non-duality to achieve knowledge?
Shankara (Advaita Vedanta).
Which branch of philosophy deals with the nature of knowledge and how we acquire it?
Epistemology
Which philosopher’s epistemology emphasizes the role of language and culture in shaping knowledge, particularly in African societies?
Kwasi Wiredu
What is the metaphysical concept in Advaita Vedanta that explains the unity of the self (Atman) and ultimate reality (Brahman)?
Non-dualism (Advaita)
In African epistemology, how is the process of acquiring knowledge different from Western approaches?
It emphasizes a collective, community-oriented understanding, as opposed to individualistic or abstract forms of knowing.
Which tradition emphasizes the importance of sitting meditation (zazen) for gaining true knowledge?
Zen Buddhism (Eihei Dogen).
What term refers to knowledge gained through direct experience or observation?
Empirical knowledge (pratyaksha)
Eihei Dogen is associated with which school of Buddhism?
Soto school of Zen Buddhism
According to Shankara, what is the nature of the world that we perceive through our senses?
The world is an illusion (Maya), and the ultimate reality (Brahman) is the only truth.
What role does language play in Kwasi Wiredu’s epistemology?
Language is a critical tool that shapes and reflects cultural knowledge, influencing how we conceptualize reality.
According to Kwasi Wiredu, what does knowledge look like in African epistemology?
Knowledge is contextual, socially constructed, and deeply embedded in cultural practices and communal life.
What is the difference between 'conceptual' and 'experiential' knowledge?
Conceptual knowledge is abstract and intellectual, while experiential knowledge is derived from direct, lived experience.
Which philosopher argued that knowledge transcends dualism and is about the oneness of self with ultimate reality?
Shankara (Advaita Vedanta)
What term in Zen Buddhism does Dogen use to explain the interconnectedness of all things in reality?
Shinjin datsu ryo (mind and body are one in practice).
In Shankara’s view, what is the relationship between knowledge and liberation?
True knowledge (jnana) leads to liberation (moksha), as it reveals the oneness of the self (Atman) with Brahman.
How does the process of knowing in Zen Buddhism differ from both Advaita Vedanta and African epistemology?
Zen Buddhism emphasizes direct, embodied experience of the present moment (zazen), rather than intellectual or conceptual understanding.
How does Kwasi Wiredu define knowledge in relation to culture?
Knowledge, for Wiredu, is influenced by language, culture, and social practices, and it should be understood through communal contexts.
What did Dogen mean by "knowledge" in relation to meditation?
Knowledge is the lived experience of the present moment, gained through zazen (sitting meditation).
Dogen’s metaphysics stresses that reality is constantly unfolding and interdependent. What concept does this relate to in his philosophy?
The dynamic, constantly changing nature of reality, where all phenomena are interdependent.
What cultural aspect does Dogen’s Zen Buddhism focus on for attaining knowledge?
Direct experiential insight gained through meditation (zazen), in the present moment, beyond conceptual understanding.
In contrast to Shankara and Dogen, how does Wiredu view the relationship between the individual and knowledge?
Wiredu focuses on communal knowledge, seeing the individual’s understanding as shaped by social, cultural, and linguistic contexts.