1) What does Russell mean by "sense data" and why does he introduce this notion?
When people look at a table most of them would say the same thing about the appearance, like the color, the shape or the hardness. But if the people have to describe the table more specific it can cause problems. For example the color, since different parts can reflect the light differently and depending on where you stand the table appears to be different colors. Another example is if you look at the table in a microscope, then you will se different things than you see with your naked eye, which description of it is the true one? Thinking like this, you realize that the real table, if there is one, is not that one that we first saw/heard/felt. This raises two questions, 1 is there really a table? 2 if so, what type of object can it be? To make this more clear, Russell introduce different terms, and one of these is “sense-data”. The sense-data is the data directly know by sensations, like color, smell, hardness, sound and so on.
When people look at a table most of them would say the same thing about the appearance, like the color, the shape or the hardness. But if the people have to describe the table more specific it can cause problems. For example the color, since different parts can reflect the light differently and depending on where you stand the table appears to be different colors. Another example is if you look at the table in a microscope, then you will se different things than you see with your naked eye, which description of it is the true one? Thinking like this, you realize that the real table, if there is one, is not that one that we first saw/heard/felt. This raises two questions, 1 is there really a table? 2 if so, what type of object can it be? To make this more clear, Russell introduce different terms, and one of these is “sense-data”. The sense-data is the data directly know by sensations, like color, smell, hardness, sound and so on.
2) What is the meaning of the terms "proposition" and "statement of fact"? How does propositions and statement of facts differ from other kinds of verbal expressions?
A proposition is one way to explain the reality of an object or situation, but it’s based on your own believes of said reality.
A statement of fact is also a way to explain the reality of an object or a situation but what distinguishes this from a proposition is that when it is a statement of fact, it is important to be able to prove that the statement in fact is true. Usually when it is a statement of fact a larger group of people have agreed on the same think. But what the truth is may be different for different people which means that a statement of fact not is the same thing as the absolute truth, if there even is such a thing.
3) In chapter 5 ("Knowledge by Acquaintance and Knowledge by Description") Russell introduces the notion "definite description". What does this notion mean?
There are different ways of describing objects. One way of describing a pillow would be to say “a white pillow” but since there are a lot of white pillows in the world, the person that receives the descriptions would probably not understand which white pillow. But if the pillow were described as “the pillow with the pink skull and the coffee stain” the person that receives the description would understand which pillow. The description that allows us to understand which object that is being described is called a ‘definite description’. It is only one object that has the described properties. The described object is know to us through ‘knowledge by description’ not by acquainted.
There are different ways of describing objects. One way of describing a pillow would be to say “a white pillow” but since there are a lot of white pillows in the world, the person that receives the descriptions would probably not understand which white pillow. But if the pillow were described as “the pillow with the pink skull and the coffee stain” the person that receives the description would understand which pillow. The description that allows us to understand which object that is being described is called a ‘definite description’. It is only one object that has the described properties. The described object is know to us through ‘knowledge by description’ not by acquainted.
4)In chapter 13 ("Knowledge, Error and Probable Opinion") and in chapter 14 ("The Limits of Philosophical Knowledge") Russell attacks traditional problems in theory of knowledge (epistemology). What are the main points in Russell's presentation?
In these chapters Russell discuss some of the problems about knowledge. According to me Russell claims that there is two main problems; what is knowledge and what is the truth? Russell argues about what knowledge actually is, and that just because something you though were going to happen happened does not mean that you had knowledge about it. He also argues that knowledge can be based on sense-data. For example if a newspaper write that the king is dead, it is assumed that you know how to read and therefore can understand the news.
Knowledge is based on fact, and as earlier mentioned a fact that is true to one person can be false to another person. This raises the question; what is the truth? Russell argues that there are many different truths and it is not sure that there is one absolute truth. He argues that there are many different truths and there is various factors to consider in order to make a decision.
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