Understanding, Knowing and Justification

Abstract

In today’s world, with the spread of the study of Social Anthropology and/or ethnography as well as our resultant acquaintance with other cultures, we are frequently trained to assert our understanding of a culture or a religion or a world-view that is not our own. In this context the word “understanding” takes on a new meaning. When we say that we have an understanding, that is, a non-committal comprehension of a religious doctrine, we are guarding ourselves from saying that we believe in such a doctrine. Inter-cultural studies open up the possibility of such commitment-less understanding.