How do you know the things you know?

Whether it is philosophy or observation, what makes something more true or false?

I grew up going to church and hearing the words “I believe” and “I know” when it came to things of God. In my early 20s, I attended university and earned a Bachelor of Science with a major in Chemistry and a minor in Psychology. There were times when I learned something in science that did not line up with what I believed religiously. How could I reconcile ideas that felt opposing? These ideas included evolution, gender identities and gender roles, and free will. I was able to reconcile some of these ideas, and I am still working to reconcile others in my life. These experiences have led me to think deeply about how I obtain the knowledge and beliefs that I hold.

The statements “God loves me” and “Water boils at 100°C” can both be considered statements of truth, but how do I know that these statements are true? How can I actually know these things? These questions lie at the heart of philosophy, science, mathematics, education, and religion. The study of knowledge, known as epistemology, explores how people obtain knowledge and determine what information is reliable or unreliable. As a science teacher, I find this question fascinating. Science is not simply a collection of facts, but a method of gathering information and a framework for making connections between ideas. Many people rely heavily on science to inform their understanding of the world.

Science is partially based on empiricism, or learning through experience. This approach allows knowledge to develop through sensory experiences: observing patterns, performing experiments, measuring, and interacting with the world around us. The scientific method follows a cyclical process of observing, asking questions, using prior knowledge to make predictions, testing ideas, analyzing measurements, and revising understanding. The beauty of this process is that everyone is invited to test and explore ideas for themselves. What happens if the same experiment produces different results? Empiricism encourages us to collect more information, examine variables, and determine whether all conditions were truly the same. This also brings statistics into the conversation, helping us describe patterns and understand large amounts of data and information. What if people make different observations because of differences in experience or perception? Then we continue investigating and questioning what may have caused those differences.

Another way of learning is rationalism, or learning through reason. This method of learning does not always require collecting measurements, but instead focuses on relationships between ideas. Science is also grounded in rationalism. Reason allows us to recognize patterns, build models, make predictions, and connect concepts together. Because people have different backgrounds and experiences, the same information will not always lead everyone to the same conclusion. Different conclusions are debated and weighed against one another. Artificial intelligence and computer science rely heavily on rationalism.

What role does intuition play in obtaining knowledge and truth? Intuition is not fully rooted in either empiricism or rationalism. It is often the brain recognizing patterns subconsciously based on prior experience. The more deeply we engage with something, the more our minds begin detecting patterns automatically. However, intuition can sometimes be wrong because of biases and assumptions. Intuition plays a significant role in creativity, religiosity, problem-solving, and discovery. For me, intuition is also an important part of my religious self.

We have all had a favourite teacher or mentor that we learned from. Isaac Newton’s famous quote, “If I have seen further, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants,” helps us understand that many of our accomplishments are possible because of the people who came before us. Whether they are teachers, authors, researchers, communities, Elders, or experts, we learn from others. We build upon the knowledge they provide and contribute our own understanding in return. We are often drawn to knowledge that feels relatable, experiential, connected to our communities, and rooted in history. I have been blessed to learn from many role models in my life. My parents attended college but did not complete degrees. My mom later returned to school to become an educational assistant while I was still in elementary school. I was fortunate enough to have my mom working in some of my schools.

As we dive into the AI era, there is an almost infinite amount of knowledge at our fingertips. We need to know how to process and interpret it. Science and religion have both helped me think clearly and ask meaningful questions. There is a lot that I do not know and a lot that I still want to learn. Good science is not about pretending to know everything, but about questioning why things happen. It is about building better and more reliable explanations over time. Religion has taught me to have confidence in myself and to understand that it is okay to make mistakes. I can improve and become better.

I created this website to share my knowledge and skills in the hope that I might one day become one of the giants I once read about. I want to inspire others and spark curiosity. After all, it was my high school chemistry teacher who first sparked my own curiosity in science. “Curious and Curiouser” was a phrase he often said during lessons. I love hearing questions from my own students and watching them search for knowledge because it challenges me to think more deeply about my own understanding and explanations. I am fascinated by how my understanding has developed over time. My knowledge has been built block upon block, idea upon idea, and it will continue to grow larger and larger.

Rad Law Bro