Reviving Plato: what is knowledge?

03 December 2004

Renowned Australian philosophers will explore the concept of knowledge at a two-day workshop next week at the University of New South Wales.

The workshop, Aspects of Knowing, will analyse a question posed by Plato more than 2000 years ago, one that has been central to philosophical debate over the centuries - what is knowledge?

"So many people throw the term 'knowledge' around by saying that we are a 'knowledge economy' and a 'knowledge nation'. But if you ask people what knowledge is, you don't get a very coherent or in-depth analysis," says Associate Professor Stephen Hetherington, workshop organiser from UNSW's School of Philosophy.

"We structure our society around knowledge and we even structure our sense of self around it, but we tend not to think much about what it is. The workshop will explore what it is, who has it, and why it matters."

Prominent philosophers speaking at the workshop include John Bigelow (Monash), David Chalmers (ANU), and Frank Jackson (ANU). There will be papers exploring topics such as intuition and knowledge, truth and scepticism, and the components of knowledge.

What: Aspects of Knowing - Epistemology workshop

Where: Morven Brown building, Kensington campus

When: 8.30am - 5pm, Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 December

Cost: $10 (students $5)

For further information on the workshop see the website.

Contact: Stephen Hetherington, 9385 2318 or Media Office Alex Clark, 9385 3263.