The Impact of Non-epistemological Factors on the Process of Gaining Knowledge

Document Type : Research Paper

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Abstract

Are there any obstacles in the process of gaining knowledge? This is one of
the most important questions raised in contemporary epistemology. For the
first time it was William James, the famous American philosopher and
psychologist, who draws his attention to this question. In his famous paper,
“The Will to Believe”, he shows that despite the idea that our beliefs are
usually based on reason, it is non-epistemological factors belonging to our
non-rational natures that always shape our beliefs. In other words, James
claims that our emotional-volitional nature formed by our interests, affections,
fears and hopes, desires, demands, dreams etc. effects our beliefs. Of course,
his claim is not only about the negative effects of these factors. Sometimes he
considers following the emotional-volitional nature as an epistemic right of
human among others, and this point shows the positive impact of the nonintellectual
spheres on intellectual realm. This paper discusses the impact of
the non-intellectual realm on knowledge according to James view points.
 
 
 

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References

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