Compare The Three Epistemological Approaches To The Existence Of Whoville

Different Epistemological Approaches To The Existence Of Whoville In the children’s book, Horton Hears A Who by Dr Seuss, many distinct characters represent various diverged Epistemological points of view. There are three Epistemological approaches that the characters in the story use. The three Epistemological approaches are the rationalist approach, the empiricist approach, and the transcendental approach. The different character’s approaches to the situation has a huge impact on the existence of Whoville throughout the story. Firstly, The Rationalist approach is used by Vlad Vlad-i-koff and the monkees. Vlad Vlad-i-koff approached the situation using his knowledge based on his logic. To Vlad Vlad-i-koff’s logical thoughts, he believed

On the other hand, the monkees believe that Horton has gone mad and is telling a lie. The monkees took the clover away from Horton to prove to him that there are no living beings on the clover by attempting to help Horton get over his little act. The monkeys and Vlad Vlad-i-koff have a source of knowledge through the Gettier case. The Gettier case is the argument that a person cannot have knowledge of something if their method of knowledge is through assumption. You cannot know something or have knowledge if you just guessed or lucked out onto the correct answer. The monkeys argue that Horton cannot know for sure that what he is saying is true when he has a belief that there are people on the speck. They believe that he is guessing that there are living beings on the speck of dust. Descartes states that using math and science is the most efficient way to seek knowledge. Descartes is an Epistemological Philosopher who believes that beliefs are classified as true if it passes as genuine

The kangaroo did not believe Horton due to the fact that she only trusts her senses. The kangaroo did not believe that Horton was telling the truth because she could not see nor hear the tiny people on the speck of dust. The kangaroo follows the same approach as Lock with the knowledge of the external world. Locke is a theory of knowledge through the five senses “Locke himself, however, emphasizes that knowledge of the external world is neither based on inference or reasoning nor is it based on reflecting on ideas somehow already in the mind. Instead, it is achieved through sensory experience”(Priselac 2016). The kangaroo trusted her experiences and her senses when she was being shown the dust on the clover. By the end of the story, the kangaroo heard the tiny Whos on the speck of dust and realized that Horton was telling the truth. By the end of the story the kangaroo changes her mind after Horton has the Whos yell as loud as they can because he knows that she only trusts her senses. After being able to hear the little people on the speck, she changes her mind and opens her eyes to the truth. Overall, the kangaroo trusts her senses over any other