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Responsible knowledge best reflects your own personal opinions. T/F

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Final answer:

The assertion that responsible knowledge reflects personal opinions is false. Knowledge should consist of justified true belief and must correspond with truth, not merely subjective views. Opinions are valuable, but they must be distinguished from factual knowledge which requires justification.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement 'Responsible knowledge best reflects your own personal opinions' is false. Plato's hypothesis on knowledge, mentioned as the JTB account (justified true belief), requires that for someone to truly 'know' something, it must be a belief that is both true and justified. Personal opinions, despite being important, do not alone constitute knowledge unless they meet these criteria. Knowledge is a belief that is true, which means that it corresponds with reality, and one must have justification for holding that belief. Moreover, the philosophical understanding of knowledge is that it is not entirely subjective, and it is often gained through testimony, acknowledging the social nature of acquiring knowledge.

It is crucial to practice epistemic humility, recognizing the limits and potential biases of our knowledge which is highlighted by the principle that 'the knowledge we possess is fragile, fallible, and colored by our own experiences'. Therefore, while personal testimony based on direct experience carries weight, it must be differentiated from knowledge itself which requires additional supporting criteria like truth and justification.

Responsible knowledge must necessarily engage with facts and override personal opinions when they conflict. It is not solely reflective of personal opinions, as opinions can sometimes fall short of the standard for true knowledge, especially within the formal educational system where critical thinking and objective analysis are vital.

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