Epistemology, or theory of knowledge, is one of the main areas of philosophy, and throughout history there have been important debates about the limits and bases of our knowledge. Within this we find two powerful corridors that propose different ways of accessing knowledge: The rationalism of Descartes, based on reason, and the empiricism represented by Locke and Hume, based on experience.

Descartes summarizes in the phrase “cogito ergo sum” as a starting point the basis that in his opinion is certain. To achieve truth through reason, he considers the mathematical-deductive method to be the appropriate way. On the one hand, he trusts fully in reason, which he considers to be the only way to know the truth. As if this were not enough, mechanism is also worth mentioning, since physical reality is understood as a mechanical tool without purpose.

Against this and on the other side of the philosophical spectrum, we find empiricists, who rely on experience to know the whole truth; that is, knowledge is the result of experience acquired through the senses in their words. In the Gian, they proclaim a critical reason based on experience; because the empiricists want to focus their experience and the knowledge acquired by it on practical areas.

However, the Austrian philosopher Kant asserted and demonstrated that these two currents are not contradictory. What is more, he said that the two currents were necessary and that the two currents had to be brought together in order to arrive at the absolute truth and/or total knowledge. Thus, Kantian philosophy, through criticism, overcomes the antagonism between the rationalist and empiricist positions by taking the most positive part of each one. In this way, he achieved a more cautious and effective path of access to knowledge.

It is impossible to achieve the full truth without using one of the two ways. Reason and experience are both necessary for the attainment of full knowledge, and it is only through the mutual collaboration and the filling of each other’s faults that it will be possible to reach the full truth. Moreover, by using both, the pure dogmatism towards one is nullified, using a sense and a critical opinion; a critical opinion so necessary today.

We absolutely need an opinion critic to look at various things that are happening in the Basque Country and in the world today. Above all, to avoid being blinded by different headlines in the face of the current complex situation and/or manipulated in the face of reality.

In recent times, both in the world and in the Basque Country, we have an increasingly complex socio-political situation. It is worth noting the exponential rise of fascism in recent years and the unique results that are being achieved in the elections. Let us not take account of the events of the last few weeks, for it is absolutely significant that Elon Musk, the most powerful person in the world, publicly saluted the Nazis without any consequence. There are dozens of reasons for the rise of the ultra-right, but I would say that there is an insignificant headline. The quality of life of the population is declining and populist speeches are attractive in the face of this and if the individual does not have an opinion critic in the face of what they say, he can easily swallow the hook, which unfortunately is being fulfilled.

On the other hand, through manipulative headlines about immigration, they create fear, impatience and those who have come to move their lives forward are painted as mere criminals. In the face of this, if we only adopt empiricism as a means of knowledge, we can be easily manipulated through feelings.

In addition, we must not forget the Palestinian genocide, and the role of both nationally and nationally powerful media should be noted. 47,000 Palestinians killed, 2,000 Israelis. But it all goes beyond the numbers. We must not forget who has entered the land of the Palestinians, who is the oppressor and who is oppressed. Critical thinking is also absolutely necessary in order to reflect on this issue, so as not to allow them to be manipulated. In the face of this, if we were to use only Rationalism; it would seem to us that the dead Palestinians are an insignificant number, since 50,000 people killed a year with the flu would seem to be equivalent to the dead Palestinians, ignoring the political context.

For all this, we must be Empiricists and Rationalists, we must use feelings and reason; both in collaboration, as proposed by Kant’s critique.

Only through the interaction of feelings and reason can we build a Basque Country and a more just and better world.

by Adur Aranburu Balza