What theories are there about belief and knowledge?

Question

I have never seen a giraffe other than via recorded media, and it is entirely possible that I never will, but I have reason to believe they exist. I have seen them in depicted books, on TV etc and I know people who claim to have seen them. I have never seen a ghost, but I have reason to believe they don't exist. I have seen them in depicted books, on TV etc and I know people who claim to have seen them. A medieval English merchant of some education may have been aware of elephants (e.g. Rochester Bestiary, c. 1225-1250), but would never see one but, like me, counted them as things she knew existed. She might also have never seen a ghost, but knew people who claim to have seen them and therefore also counted them as things she knew existed. Epistemology and definitions of knowledge, belief and truth aside, is there an academic or anthropological way of talking about what people 'know' in different eras or cultures (or individually)? Are there any authors that you could recommend? "Epistemological norms", "consensus of knowledge", "set of beliefs" or something? Like people in the middle ages 'knew' that there was a Christian kingdom somewhere to the East, ruled by Prestor John or that people 'knew' that phrenology was a science.

Answer 1

I think for eastern traditions Talal Asad's Genealogy of Knowledge and Secularism and Religion are excellent works. Asad focuses specifically on religious belief as a product of discourse.

He is also responding to Clifford Geertz and the latter's distinction between metaphysics and the cultural symbols that sustain them. I find that congruence very helpful myself. Of course, Max Weber's discussion of 'enchantment' and Durkheim's focus on the sacred also inform the modern academic understanding of faith and how it operates.

In terms of newer works, I find Thomas Tweed's Crossing and Dwelling incredibly groundbreaking, because he emphasizes the sense of movement back forth that's involved in faith. This is a transition between an abode (physical, cosmic) and migrations or crossings back and forth. Hope this helps, much more can be said...