Is all knowledge essentially rational? What is the connection between knowledge and reason? From Plato to the 21st century, philosopher Corine Besson surveys the field and articulates a new understanding of the relation between rationality, reasons and knowledge.

Theories of knowledge, reasons and rationality are as old as philosophy itself. But despite millennia of pondering, the relation between the three remains bafflingly elusive.

In this two-part course, Corine Besson suggests that we need to rethink that relation. In a radical break with tradition, she argues that rationality and knowledge are connected through norms, not reasons.

By the end of this course, you will have learned:

How Plato and Aristotle defined reasons and knowledge

How we sometimes fail to act on good reasons

Why we seem to have knowledge without reasons

Why Ryle distinguished between skills and reflexes

How luck prevents us from having knowledge

What’s necessary for know-how

What distinguishes the theoretical from the practical domains

How knowledge relates to skill

What problems Lewis Carroll’s Paradox poses for theories of rationality

What it means to talk about normativity

As part of the course there are in-video quiz questions to consolidate your learning, suggested further readings to stimulate a deeper exploration of the topic, discussion boards to have your say and an end-of-course assessment set by Dr Besson.

Requirements

IAI Academy courses are designed to be challenging but accessible to the interested student. No specialist knowledge is required.