ABSTRACT
Knowledge is obtained when the relation between the mind and the world is a harmonious one, resulting in action which is thereby rational and coherent. Non-interactionist approaches to knowledge have, however, been hugely influential and this chapter suggests damaging, particularly in the field of social scientific research. The chapter also suggests that philosophers have made a similar assumption to traditional scientists in attempting to found knowledge in general upon a single, supposedly secure, bedrock. The acquisition of knowledge is a personal process and the ultimate benefits of acquiring knowledge are personal also; the more each of us knows, the greater will be the cohesion and predictability of our experiences and the less will be the extent of our confusion and separation from reality. The personal aspect to legitimate knowledge claims implies that the individual’s confidence in his or her beliefs cannot ultimately be founded on the word of whoever is considered to be the reputable source of knowledge.
