An Evaluation of Fred Dretske's Conception of Knowledge and Beliefs.

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An Evaluation of Fred Dretske’s Conception of Knowledge and Beliefs.

When looking to evaluate Fred Dretske it is important to consider both the vehicle based approach and the vehicle-less approach. Information is a key concept when it comes to understanding Fred Dretske and his conception of knowledge and belief, however before one is able to fully understand this concept of belief and knowledge we need to first need to understand his conception of what a belief is. This essay aims to create comparison between the vehicle based and vehicle-less approach that will assist with the understanding Dretske’s conception of knowledge and belief before a final evaluation and conclusion will be made.

When examining the vehicle based approach it is important to grasp what Dretske describes a belief to be. He describes them as a representation. These representations are divided up into three types of representational systems. Within these representational systems, there are elements of functionality and power. Dretske describes these systems as “any system whose function it is to indicate how things stand with respect to some other object, condition, or magnitude” (Dretske, 1991:52) A Type 1 representational system is something that is completely conventional. An example of this is a map. Through convention the symbols and drawings on the map have come to mean something, however if they were to stand alone the meaning would be lost. A type 1 representational system has no power, yet it does function as people, as long as they can understand the markings and symbols are able to read the map and go in whatever direction they might need.

Before being able to efficiently differentiate been Type 1 and Type 2 one must be able to distinguish between a symbol and a sign. A symbol is something that has been given a conventional meaning. A symbol stands to represent something in a specific context, however when removed from the intended context it may lose its meaning. An example of this is the mathematical sign alpha (α) when used in mathematics it carries a specific meaning, however when it is removed from this context it appears more like a squiggle.  A Type 2 representational system is a combination of conventional and natural aspects. An example of this is a thermometer. The conventional aspect of this is that in order to be able to understand what it is indicating you need to be able to understand the specific symbols on the thermometer. The natural aspect is that when the temperature changes, so does the indication on the thermometer. A type 2 representational system has both power and functionality. It has the power to indicate that the density level of glass is higher than mercury which is thus the power that indicates the changing temperature. The function of the thermometer is to display the temperature. Dretske gives a second and possibly clearer example to us through a bathroom scale. Dretske acknowledges that although hard work and effort went into the creation of the scale, once it has been fully manufactured and put into place, there is nothing conventional about it. The scale is able to signify it use without any assistance from either the creator or user. The symbols on the scale assist to understand what the pointer is indicating however they do not change the meaning (Dretske, 1991: 54)

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A Type 3 representational system is a completely natural system.  Type 3 representational systems are not assigned a function; the function is part of its existence. Dretske belives that beliefs are a Type 3 representation.

Information is a key concept to grasp when it comes to understanding Dretske. He believes that information is to be something that comes from a source. A signal carries this information about a source in a particular state. This signal that is being carried about the source is what we can pick up and interpret. For Dretske this meant it was an objective ...

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