The task of uncovering what constitutes as knowledge is as old as philosophy itself. Analyzing knowledge is extensively considered an important mission -not only -because it reveals the necessary and sufficient conditions for knowledge but also because it allows us to suggest who exactly has knowledge of what and when. It was only in 1963 that the widely accepted “Justified True Belief” (JTB) analysis of knowledge came into question. In a two page essay Edmund Gettier provided two counter-examples which challenged our traditional notion of knowledge. This essay will evaluate if Gettier truly did “single-handedly change the course of epistemology”. It will do so by acknowledging some criticisms towards Gettier. Consequently, this essay will assert that several decades later the Gettier cases are still successful in questioning JTB and thus the philosophical analysis of knowledge has yet to be resolved.
What is the analysis of knowledge?
As epistemologists, it seems somewhat instinctual that we should understand what knowledge is compromised of. If we are able to do so we can offer several explanatory and prescriptive considerations. For example, we can suggest who has
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It is nearing the end of the month and they are swiftly running out of money. In order, to line their pockets they decide it is time to look for a job. Living in Rondebosch they choose waitressing at Cocoa Wah Wah to be the most convenient place of work. They both apply for the job. Jess has a justified true belief that Bronte will get the job. She also has a justified belief that Bronte has R10 in her pocket. Based on these two propositions Jess then concludes that: the woman who gets the job will have R10 in her pocket. However, it is not Bronte that gets the job but Jess. Unbeknownst to Jess, she also happens to have R10 in her pocket. Thus, her belief that the woman who will get the job has R10 in their pocket was in fact justified and