| The search for a fourth condition of knowledge |
The components of knowledge are listed and explained below:
- Belief: The person believes that “P” must true. This belief might be more or less And it might but it need not be manifested in the person’s speech, such as by her saying that “P” or by her saying that she believes that “P”. All that is needed, strictly speaking, is for her belief to exist (while possessing at least the two further properties that are about to be listed).
- Truth: The person’s belief that “P” needs to be true i.e. “Miss A” must believe that “P” is true. If it is incorrect instead, then no matter what else is good or useful about it, it is not knowledge. It would only be something else, something
Admittedly, even when a belief is mistaken it can feel to the believer as if it is true. But in that circumstance the feeling would be mistaken; and so the belief would not be knowledge, no matter how much it might feel to the believer like knowledge.
- Justification: “Miss A” is justified in believing that “P” is true i.e. the person’s belief that “P” needs to be well supported, such as by being based upon some good evidence or reasoning, or perhaps some other kind of rational justification. Otherwise, the belief, even if it is true, may as well be a lucky guess. It would be correct without being knowledge. It would only be something else, something lesser.
