Philosophical Knowledge: characteristics, examples and functions

Philosophical knowledge can be considered a branch of philosophy; it is the result or the product of philosophical reflections. It is based on the logic and criticism that characterize philosophical thought.

In other words, it is the science that studies “knowledge itself”. In this article we will know what it consists of, its functions, characteristics, types, elements that make it up and some examples of it.

• We recommend reading: "The 8 branches of Philosophy (and their main thinkers)"

Philosophical knowledge: what does it consist of?

Philosophical knowledge is that which is born from observing, reading, studying, investigating and analyzing different environmental phenomena.as well as other types of knowledge. It is a branch of philosophy based on studying the most outstanding issues of it.

This type of knowledge also originates thanks to our capacity for reflection, which allows us to reflect on reality and on other people's previous reflections. In other words, it is not strictly based on science or experience (although there are some types that are, as we will see later), but rather on one's own capacity for reflection.

When his methodology is strictly reflective, we speak of epistemology; that is to say, in reality epistemology is about a type of philosophical knowledge, but there are more.

Thus, epistemology is considered "the science that studies knowledge itself." But How does philosophical knowledge study reality? Through three main paths: observation, reflection and critical capacity.

functions

The objective of philosophical knowledge is the creation of new ideas and concepts that, in turn, allow the development of new knowledge.. In addition, it also allows us to understand how certain ideas and reflections have appeared, that is, where they have come from and why.

This understanding that allows philosophical knowledge helps us to determine mistakes, contradictions, repetitions, etc., of philosophical knowledge (or discourse) itself. That is, as we anticipated, it is about studying knowledge itself, its bases and structure. In addition, philosophical knowledge has another function: to get to know reality in the truest way possible, and also to understand it.

Another of its primary objectives is to analyze the way that people reason, think and answer the classic questions of philosophy. On the other hand, it tries to define what method(s) science should use, what content it should cover and the language it should use.

Characteristics

We are going to know the 6 main characteristics of philosophical knowledge next.

1. Systematic

The first characteristic that we propose is its degree of systematicity.; This means that philosophical knowledge is highly systematic, that is, it is ordered according to a series of parameters.

2. Analytical

Another second characteristic is its degree of analysis.. Philosophical knowledge seeks to analyze and understand reality, one's own knowledge, in an analytical and detailed way. Thus, it focuses on some particular categories, concepts, themes and theories. Its objective is to cover a specific topic (or concept, category, etc.) to analyze it in detail.

3. Rational

It is a rational knowledge, which is studied mainly through logic and reason. This means that it is detached from any emotion. Reason is the basic tool of philosophers and thinkers, which allows access to knowledge and understand it.

4. Historical

This type of knowledge is linked to a specific historical context, that is, to a period of history, which may or may not be current. This context includes certain historical events, and in turn, it is a social and political context. That is, it is not a “timeless” knowledge.

5. Global

On the other hand, this knowledge can encompass any possible reality, that is, different sciences, fields of study, disciplines... That is, it can be applied in its totality (although sometimes it focuses on certain categories or concepts, as we explained in point 2).

6. Critical

As we already anticipated, one of the ways of studying philosophical knowledge is the critical sense, widely used in philosophy.. Criticism is used to answer questions, to raise doubts, to unravel mysteries, etc. This tool makes it possible to identify possible contradictions within the philosophical discourse, as well as to think with a greater degree of objectivity.

Guys

There are 5 major types of philosophical knowledge, depending on their objectives, characteristics, methodologies, etc. These are the following.

1. empirical philosophical knowledge

This type of knowledge provides information and data through experience and what we are experiencing. It is based on empirically verifying facts, hypotheses or theories. Examples of it are: learning a language or learning to read and write.

2. scientific philosophical knowledge

This, unlike the empirical, is based on observation, experimentation and analysis of phenomena. That is, it is based on the scientific method, based on rigorous methods. Some examples are: the theory of gravity, Darwin's theory of evolution…

3. theological philosophical knowledge

It focuses on studying religions, faith and spirituality. In addition, it explains why we can feel or accept phenomena that we cannot verify; thus, it corresponds to a more spiritual version of knowledge. Some examples of him are: the miracles of Jesus, the 10 commandments, the fact that God exists, etc. (that is, it collects beliefs, theories, etc.).

4. Pure philosophical knowledge (epistemology)

The so-called epistemology, which we mentioned at the beginning of the article, consists of studying one's own knowledge. Specifically, it analyzes one's own thinking and how ideas arise. It is also sometimes referred to as "philosophical self-knowledge."

This type of knowledge has a certain relationship with wisdom, and with the need for answers. It is related to the classic questions of philosophy, such as "what are we?", "what is the meaning of life?", etc.

5. intuitive philosophical knowledge

It is more about “day to day” knowledge, which is obtained through the things that happen to us on a daily basis. For example, it would be to be able to identify the emotions of others, interpret a gesture or a look, understand certain social situations, etc.

Items

Philosophical knowledge is made up of 4 elements or components. We will meet them below.

1. Subject

It is about the person who reflects or thinks about some issue, that is, "the thinker or thinker himself".

2. Object

It consists of the object, that is, one's knowledge, ideas, thoughts, etc. “That which is thought and analyzed”.

3. cognitive operation

It encompasses the mental processes in charge of analyzing and reflecting on something.

4. Thought

It is the final product of a reflection, of a thought process. It can be, for example, an idea, a phrase or a philosophical discourse.

Bibliographic references:

• Bachelard, Gaston. (2006). Epistemology, Ed. Anagrama.
• Beyer, C., & Burri, A. (2007). Philosophical Knowledge: Its Possibility and Scope. New York: Rodopi.
• Castells, M. and Ipola, E. (1942). Methodology and epistemology of the social sciences, Ed. Ayuso.