John Naisbitt quotes “We are drowning for information, but starved of knowledge”, which seems to refer the quality issue in knowledge. Some knowledge claims can be lacking quality. This quote is about how to separate quality information from the quantity of information.
This title states that more people accept a piece of knowledge than less. It is the best way to determine its quality. While I agree with the idea of judging the quality and acceptance of knowledge by its number, it can be misleading in some cases. Knowledge is the main topic of this essay. However, there are many ways to define it. Plato’s definition of knowledge was “a justified, true belief”. This is both a valid definition for philosophers and individuals. This directly refers to the quality and standard of knowledge. This is how I intend to first address the quality of knowledge. Next, I will argue whether acceptance of a knowledge claims would be indicative of its quality.
This knowledge question is critical to justify the arguments. Although there are many methods to determine the quality of knowledge, it is important to focus on the claims and verifyiability of knowledge claims. In Biology, for example, we believe that oxygen is created by plants when they absorb carbon dioxide. This knowledge is widely accepted because it is ‘accessible’. This knowledge is easily accessible via books and the internet. Recently, I did an experiment to measure the oxygen bubbles that Elodea plants produce per minute at different water ph levels. This experiment was used to prove that green plants can make oxygen even in water. It also allowed me compare results with other research on the subject. If knowledge can be easily verified and accessible, it is considered high-quality.
However, the reliability of knowledge shows that knowledge is high-quality. This counterclaim seems very valid in the context of 1984, George Orwell’s book. Orwell writes about a totalitarian state that Big Brother overlooks and “his” party. Winston Smith, the Protagonist, is one of few who oppose the party’s grotesque party. He has a different ideology than the party. Winston works in records at the Ministry of Truth. His job involves rewriting newspapers and articles from the past to match the current message of the mercurial party. Things that inform/provide knowledge are not as reliable or as accurate as we might think. This is a relevant issue in today’s society with all the mass information available. The book contains many examples of this topic, particularly chapter 7, in which Winston talks about a children’s book that was published in the past, and various claims made both by the party itself and three other individuals. “Everything became mist. “Everything faded into mist” is a phrase to remember as it was the party’s doing. Winston remembers an incident that led to the execution of Jones, Aaronson, and Rutherford in 1968. Winston recalls finding a photo of an event in 1973 that showed the men being present. The confessions were false, therefore Winston declared them to be lies. The reliability of the knowledge is an important factor in determining its value through different methods like Memory. I am now able to answer the question of the KQ. While there are many ways you can measure the quality, it is also important to consider its availability and reliability. These are the key factors that determine the quality.
This raises a question about knowledge: In what ways would people accept knowledge claims?
Although quality can be measured in many ways (but only a few are recommended), people’s acceptance of knowledge claim also impacts the quality of that knowledge. In certain cases, knowledge quality can be measured by how many people accept it. An expression of human creativity in order to create a work, art can be described as “art”. Music is also an art-form. American rapper J. Cole has released KOD, an Album that addresses addiction and racism. It also targets the millennial generation. The album stands for Kids On Drugs King Over Dosed, Kill Our Demons and King Over Dosed. These are the personal and social issues that Cole has been inspired by. The first refers primarily to Cole’s own experiences with drugs, while the second refers J. Cole. And lastly, the third refers towards society’s ultimate goal, to confront their fears. These are only a few reasons Cole’s art is high-quality.
Cole’s album, despite not having a large fan base like Drake’s, has set numerous records and won numerous awards. Cole shares his experiences, thoughts, feelings, and logic to create his artwork. His message is conveyed to his viewers by using emotion, reasoning and language. His work touches on many personal and social issues. Many people can relate to it and understand him. This gives his work credibility, and, in turn, determines its quality. Cole’s work has been successful due to the acceptance and support of many people.
The important counter argument is that some people will believe claims about hypothetical quality. One can generate knowledge with low quality assumptions by using rational reasoning. This knowledge cannot be applied in real life. Dalton’s Atomic Theory, for example, claimed that matter is made up of tiny particles called Atoms. They are also indivisible. This claim was true up to a certain extent but was not real. J.J. Thomson disapproved the theory, proving that atoms consist of electrons. Thomson was awarded a Nobel Prize. Dalton’s theory and model were continually improved by other scientists. This indicates that knowledge quality was improving. This suggests that Dalton’s claim wasn’t as good as many thought. However, the theory is still valid and atoms can exist. Also, this suggests that knowledge quality is improving. This title shows that not only is it not possible to measure knowledge’s quality by the amount of people who accept it but also the other aspects of quality. Quality of knowledge must also be assessed on the basis of accessibility, reliability, validity and verifiability. Acceptance of knowledge is, in my opinion, a measure of the quality of knowledge. However, there may be loopholes.
Let me conclude, and I agree with my views. The quality of knowledge can’t be measured only by the number of people who accept it.
