How do I know what I know?

I know what I know through real life experiences, education and life lessons taught by my family members. I know what I know from everyday experiences. For example, I know that I am not supposed to waste food because I have lived in a country where more than half the population is below the poverty line. I have witnessed starving children tap at the window of my car asking for money so that they can buy food. Experiences such as these help you gain perspective about your life and others as well.

Education is another huge factor that helped me know what I know. Through the teachers’ lectures and assignments I am able to learn new subjects such as math, political science, English, economics and etc. Their lectures have allowed me to further my knowledge regarding a particular subject. For example, in Political science I learned about John Locke and his definition of a natural man. I now know this through the extensive and rigorous reading process I must go through to understand the concepts of John Locke. Education requires great motivation and drive and this allows me to know what I know. Lastly, lessons dictated by my family members have enabled me to know what I know. For example, my mother has taught me how to tie my shoelaces when I was little. Through her constant guidance and motivation she taught me this skill. Guidance from family members allows you to understand and learn new things that become a part of what you know.

While growing up I have been taught many lessons from my mom and she has greatly influenced my perception between right and wrong. I am able to distinguish right from wrong because of the values and morals she has taught me. Honesty is a very important value to me because if I stay truthful to myself and those around me I will be able to make correct decisions in life. A real life example of when I had to make a decision between right and wrong was when I was about to lie to my mom about where I was going. I decided that it would be best for me to tell her the truth instead of lying because it would break her trust and I would hurt her in the process. Therefore, my values greatly influence how I decide between something that is right or wrong.

I believe that it is very difficult to be absolutely certain regarding things. However, in order to be close to certainty it is best to evaluate the pros and cons of a situation or a problem. If you look at the two sides of every situation then you are more likely to be certain about your decision or your actions. For example, during a test you are trying to pick the correct answer and must cross out the wrong choices. You try to remember what you studied and eliminate the wrong answers and pick the best possible answer. Overall, the answers to these questions are based off of real life experiences and what you have been taught throughout your childhood.

Abinta Kabir