How Do You Know?: A Dialogue

by Gordon Barnes

How Do You Know?  explores problems of knowledge that arise in everyday life. If you are not an expert, how can you know that another person is an expert? If experts are politically biased should you still trust them? More generally, how should you approach the testimony of other people: treat it all as "innocent until proven guilty," or is that too simple? Does the internet make us better knowers, or is it just a minefield of misinformation? Is it always irrational to believe a conspiracy theory? Suppose someone just as intelligent and well-informed as you are disagrees with you about something, how should that affect your belief? Can we have knowledge of what is right and wrong? How Do You Know?  approaches these issues through the lens of social epistemology and via the preeminently social genre of philosophical dialogue. Its characters think and speak like real people in the world today, discussing and debating issues that are current, practically relevant, and even controversial—while equipping readers with tools and concepts to see more clearly for themselves.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

Published October 6, 2021

Reviews

[Erin Crane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an ok introduction to these topics. It was familiar to me because I watched the Big Questions of Philosophy course from the Great Courses. It tackles foundational concepts of knowledge and assessing truth which are helpful to understand and agree on (or to be aware of where you agree and disagree) before a productive debate is to be had. Often our premises are completely different from our opponent’s, so you get nowhere.

I like the rigor of it all. Often the examples are extreme but the logic of the ideas you have should be consistent in all cases if they are right. That can be uncomfortable because we might have to concede some logical ground to the other side.

I didn’t care for the dialogue format of this. It felt like it got in the way of explaining the topics instead of helping. I don’t need the occasional joke to stay engaged. Sometimes it moved too quickly through a line of reasoning, and I was left muddled. I’d rather read something that takes its time with these topics. But as I said, it’s a decent introduction.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a struggle for me. I think I would have preferred a textbook format that got to the point with follow-up explanations. The back and forth and circular argument between the "friends" was a frustrating format for me to follow.

I don't really feel that I got anything out of it though I did highlight some passages to refer back to later if I can, and maybe after book club discussion I'll have a better appreciation for it.

[Glenn Proven · Rating 5 out of 5]

PROVOCATIVE!

This is a short book; 120 pages (130 with notes,bibliography and index), 5 chapters of thought provoking conversation.

Topics include; how can a non-expert know or trust an expert, how can we see bias in experts or ourselves and how much does bias affect our decisions, how does the Internet give/skew our information. This leads to an examination of conspiracy theories. Also in there is a look on the problem of moral knowledge.

This was written for common public so no super big words or advanced theories you gotta understand before picking it up. It’s written in the style of a play as it is a conversation among three students.

The plot: 2 first year college students who grew up together in a small town are quarreling so loud, they’re bothering a second year philosophy student. She tries to mediate their disputes. The three conversing give us our terrific points on why we think.

The study of epistemology is based on this. I had never heard this word prior to starting the book, but it’s all over the cover. Per dictionary.com : epistemology [ ih-pis-tuh-mol-uh-jee ]noun - a branch of philosophy that investigates the origin, nature, methods, and limits of human knowledge.

I recommend reading it a chapter a day, and when you close the book think about what was presented. I know I resoundingly enjoyed it by doing that.

[Ivana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reminded me of conversations I had with my friends in the past. It made me want to join in the dialogue and have some of my own ideas challenged by these three participants.

It's a conversation which starts as an argument between Paul and Steve, two students who came to a university from the same small conservative town. They were best friends and had pretty much the same conservative beliefs. However, once they started learning things at the university, Steve completely changed his views, while Paul strengthened his original ones. As they were often fighting, their friend Maya offered to moderate their argument, so they can figure out why they are fighting and who is right.

It is mostly a philosophical discussion about our sources of knowledge and how can we be sure what we know is actually true. The topics that Paul and Steve argue about are contemporarily relevant, yet not all that important, because the philosophical principles can be applied to any type of knowledge.

What this book may do for you:
It can make you question where the entirety of your knowledge came from and if anything you think you know is actually true. It may also help you understand why other people in your life think differently even though they are just as smart and educated as you are. Understanding others, empathy, can help us think more clearly for ourselves.

What this book will likely not do for you:
It will not give you any definitive answers to what's true in the world.

The book is a quick and easy read. It flows like a conversation among friends would, almost naturally. There is a little bit of friendly humor scattered through in just the right amount to lighten the mood a bit. I highly recommend it.