Curiosity is the engine of progress, without which it is difficult to imagine the development of our civilization. Knowledge is an objective reality that reproduces the real picture of the world. Man has always sought to understand how everything works. Therefore, the role of practice in cognition is so important, because it ensures the improvement, expansion and deepening of already collected information. She will be devoted to today's article. We will discuss the concept of practice, the role of practice in cognition, and the criteria of truth.
Definition of concepts
If we want to understand what is the role of practice in cognition, we must first determine the basic terms. Both concepts are tightly interconnected. Cognition and practice are believed to be two sides of the historical process. A person seeks to understand the laws and characteristics of the work of the world. However, this cannot be done at a time, so years of practice are needed to help expand the experience gained. There are three main aspects of knowledge:
- Abilities, skills and abilities. This aspect is related to the person’s awareness of how something is done or implemented.
- All information relevant to the process of understanding the world around.
- The epistemological form of the connection of man and reality. This aspect is a special cognitive unit. It exists only in conjunction with a practical relationship.
Knowledge is an ideal image of reality. The second and third aspects are the subject of epistemology. This science studies the laws of knowledge. It was still engaged in by ancient philosophers. Sophists succeeded in epistemology. For example, Protagoras and Gorgias. They sought to develop the flexibility of thinking, and for this a holistic view of the world, an understanding of its essence, was necessary.
Forms of practice:
- Labor activity (material production). This form is a natural being for people. It aims at transforming nature.
- Social activity. This form represents a change in social being. It aims to transform the established traditions of interaction between people. Social action is carried out by the so-called mass forces: revolutions, wars, reforms.
- Scientific experiment. This form of practice is an activity. In this case, the researcher does not just observe, but is included in the process. He can artificially create the conditions that he needs to analyze the properties of the world.
Experience Features
It is extremely important for a person to understand the objective picture of the surrounding reality. Practice and cognition are two sides of this process. Only through trial and error can a person figure out how everything works. The role of practice in cognition of philosophy can be explained through the functions of the first:
- Source of knowledge. Experience comes as a necessary element in the analysis of reality.
- Driving force. Practice is the basis of scientific knowledge.
- The secondary goal of knowledge.
- The criterion of truth. Only in practice can one verify the correctness of scientific knowledge. And this is a whole process, not a one-time act.
Function Explanation
If we describe the role of practice in cognition briefly, we can always say that all the information we know was not collected by chance. For example, a person needed to properly distribute land. For these purposes, and developed mathematics. Due to the development of navigation, man began to pay attention to astronomy. However, practice does not always determine cognition. Sometimes it happens the opposite: it happened with the discovery of the periodic law of Mendeleev. The entire cognitive process is determined by practical tasks and goals. Even the derivation of abstract theories is aimed at solving the problems that mankind has encountered in the course of its development. The role of practice in cognition is such that it helps to find all new properties of familiar phenomena. It provides science with all new technical means, equipment, instruments and tools. The trial and error method is used at all stages of the study. It must be understood that all experiments and observations are carried out not so much out of idle curiosity, but out of necessity. All knowledge gained is applied in practice. They are a kind of leadership action and serve to improve people's lives.
The role of practice in cognition
Gnoseology is a separate section of philosophy. He studies the role of practice in scientific knowledge. F. Bacon identified three ways of studying the world:
- "The path of science." In this case, the researcher derives truths from pure consciousness. Bacon exposed this method inherent in the scholastics.
- The Way of the Ant. In this case, the researcher collects various facts, but does not generalize them conceptually. It is also a false way of knowing.
- "The way of the bee." This method is a generalization of the first two. In this case, the researcher uses both his sensual and rational principles.
