1 Common Ways of Knowing (not testing on this material Fall 2023)

First lets talk about Personal Experiences.

• • Personal experiences are like memories. You experienced it in the past and learned from it. It can shape someone’s view and behavior towards an activity.
    • • Example: Falling off a bike and getting injured has caused you to fear riding bikes. (You experienced falling down which has caused you to associate pain with bikes)
      • Example: You didn’t do so well on your last exam, so you know you should not procrastinate studying for them.
      • Example: From experience, you know that on Iowa home game days the buses will be packed and have an unusual schedule.

Second is Tenacity

• • Tenacity is assuming something is true because it is something you have always been told. This information doesn’t have to be true.
    • • Example:  Old wives’ tales are common examples of this, such as the myth about waiting 30 minutes after eating to go swimming.
      • Example: If you are placed in Burge, you know you will be living in the craziest Residence hall because it has always been the craziest Residence hall. (You have told this and believe, but it doesn’t have to be true)
      • Example: New York has superior pizza to Chicago.

Third is Authority

• • Authority is believing something because someone of higher power, education, or social status told you so. This can a professional, a celebrity, or anyone else with authority.
    • • Example: Jenny McCarthy creating an Anti-Vaccination following because people believe what she says about vaccines because of her celebrity status.
      • Example: Bruce Harreld (University of Iowa President) sends out a mass email to the student body saying that COVID-19 is no longer a threat. You take this information as accurate considering his position of authority at the University.

Fourth is Tradition, Custom, and Faith

• • Tradition and customs involve knowledge that we receive from our family or closer communities. It is different from tenacity because tenacity is more colloquial and widespread, whereas tradition is specific to family, community, and/or people who share the same faith.
    • • Example: Having a “right way” to cook something based on a family recipe that has been passed down for generations.
      • Example: The “tooth fairy” disposes of old teeth and isn’t creepy at all.
      • Example: It’s impolite to talk about ABC at/when/during XXZ (e.g., “business” at the dining table)
      • Example: The “Golden Rule” that you should treat other people as you would like to be treated (“do onto others as you would have them do onto you”).

Fifth is Magic, Superstition, and Mysticism

• • These are ideas you have about the supernatural or forces out of your control.
    • •  Example: The common saying that if you break a mirror, you will have 7 years of bad luck.
      • Example: Tapping the Kinnick statue on the way into the stadium to “help” the team play.
      • Example: If you don’t eat China Star before a stats exam, you will fail.
      • Example: It is bad luck to walk counter-clockwise in circular hallways.
      • Example: The cat pictured below is evil (probably true, actually)
      • (Gasp! Mr.B I’m totally telling Jenn that you said this about poor, innocent Harry…)

Sixth is Intuition and Hunches:

• • This is knowing by instinct and having a “gut feeling”…you just know.
    • • Example: When watching a scary movie, you sense danger and anticipate the jump scares.
      • Example: Your football team is ahead of the Packers in the final quarter, but you just “know” Aaron Rogers is about to throw some absolute rockets to his receivers and win anyway…
      • Example: When you have a “feeling” that you forgot to do your homework for this class… Yikes!

Seventh is A Priori Reasoning:

• • A Priori is logical reasoning that leads to the ability to know things without having had to experience them. It often involves putting two things you know to be true together in order to “create” a third “fact.”
    • • Example: Pizza has tomato sauce. Tomatoes are healthy. Therefore, pizza is healthy.
      • Example: You know the hills at home get slippery during winter, so you exercise caution driving down Washington St during winter so you don’t hit people walking into the Library.
      • Example: Your friend got busted for shoplifting at Hyvee, so you know you will get in trouble if you shoplift at the Fareway.
      • Example: You are a student at the University of Iowa. University of Iowa students love football. You love football.

However, as you will see in the next reading passage these ways of knowing can be limited by bias, lack of evidence, and individual circumstances.