Everything I Know About Epistemology, I Learned From The Ensign

(Having never taken a serious interest in philosophy, that's probably pretty close to the truth.)

Elder Gerald Lund (of the Seventy) has the distinction of having written the only article for a Church magazine that uses the word "epistemology." The article is "Countering Korihor’s Philosophy" from the July 1992 Ensign (written before he became a General Authority). I originally found it as a missionary and have kept my copy since then.

The article first introduces some philosophical terms.

"Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that deals with the nature of reality. It tries to answer the question 'What is real?'"

"Axiology is the study of ethics and values."

"Epistemology is the study of how we know what is real or true."

Elder Lund then lists and briefly explains some systems of epistemology: authoritarianism, rationalism, pragmatism, and empiricism. Of course he also adds revelation. He also explains that our metaphysics, axiology, and epistemology interact and inform each other.

Having provided this helpful primer, it's time to kick some Korihor rear-end. The article lays out Korihor's philosophical foundations and how Alma responded to them. It provides a fresh view of Alma's confrontation with Korihor, and I wish there were more of these kind of articles.

I do have two main reservations: First, in my opinion the swipe at humanists is not entirely warranted. I think that you can be a good Mormon and still find a lot of agreement with secular humanists. And if you are like me, you don't entirely disagree with some of the modern Korihor-like statements quoted in the article because they don't lend themselves to easy categorization of true or false.

Second, the article gives the impression that confounding Korihor-types is as easy as following the included chart.

No matter how clever, how sophisticated the philosophies of an anti-Christ may seem, they are not true. They are riddled with contradictions, errors, and false assumptions. The gospel, on the other hand, is truth—truth that has stood the test of centuries, truth that can withstand rational examination, truth that is pragmatic and practical, truth that can be confirmed through personal experience. A believer need not apologize for his or her beliefs, for these beliefs withstand every scrutiny much more efficiently than do the doctrines of Satan.

That sounds a little hubristic to me. If you think that you are going to destroy the arguments of a thoughtful atheist using this article, you are probably in for an unpleasant surprise. Imagine that Alma and Korihor were talking about UFOs, Zeus, or something else that you do not believe in (that others do) and you begin to see the problem. My point is simply that when push comes to shove, Mormonism does not rest on impeccable philosophical arguments and consistent logic. It has vulnerabilities that can only be shielded with faith. I am reminded of a statement by President Ezra Taft Benson:

Our main task is to declare the gospel and do it effectively. We are not obligated to answer every objection. Every man eventually is backed up to the wall of faith, and there he must make his stand.

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