EPISTEMOLOGY
Epistemology is the study of knowing. Religion and philosophy have
both spent millennia grappling with the issue of knowing. But, we have
just learned that it is Perceiver mode which is responsible for giving us a
sense of knowing. Therefore, if we understand Perceiver thinking, we
should be able to use this knowledge to gain an insight into epistemology.
Why do we have such problems with knowing? Why have thinkers
studied this issue for so many years? I suggest that it is because Perceiver
thought, the mental strategy responsible for knowing, is faced with a
potential contradiction. On the one hand, it can only learn facts by
observing Mercy experiences. On the other hand, the emotional „glare‟
associated with Mercy experiences makes it difficult for Perceiver thought
to know things about experiences. That is, Perceiver strategy must gain its
knowledge from a source which, by its very nature, disrupts knowing.
The result is that Perceiver knowing comes in two basic forms. One
type emerges when Perceiver thought is in charge of knowing. The other
occurs when knowing is dictated by Mercy feelings. Let us look at these
two alternatives, starting with the case in which Perceiver thought is able
to operate independently.
Knowing through Confidence
We have learned that each Perceiver belief carries with it a certain level
of confidence. This trust gives a Perceiver belief the ability to endure
emotional pressure. How does Perceiver confidence grow? I suggest that
confidence in a specific belief grows whenever that fact survives an
emotional attack.
Gaining Perceiver confidence is like
building muscles: Both require a program
of exercise. If I start an exercise routine by
immediately lifting heavy weights and
running long distances, I will probably end
up becoming a good friend of my local
physiotherapist. Most of us know that we
have to start at a level which we can handle
and build up gradually over time. Some of
us, like myself, learn the hard way.
Through a combination of mental stress and
abrupt increase in physical activity, I did^