OPINION OR TRUTH
NOTES IN PHILOSOPHY | GRADE 11
WHAT IS OPINION?
A judgment, viewpoint, or statement that is not conclusive.
Epistemology
The study of knowledge.
An opinion may result from a person's perspective, understanding, feelings,
beliefs, and desires.
TYPES OF OPINION ANALYSIS
Normative Analysis – Focuses on what ought to be.
Positive Analysis – Based on scientific observation.
COLLECTIVE AND PROFESSIONAL OPINIONS
Public Opinion
The aggregate of individual attitudes or beliefs held by a population (city, region,
or state).
Group Opinion
Opinions collected from a group of subjects (jury, legislature, committee, or other
decision-making bodies).
Includes concepts of social choice, conformity, and group polarization.
Scientific Opinion
Scientific consensus can be partial, temporary, contingent, conflicting, or
uncertain.
There may not always be an accepted consensus for a particular situation.
Legal Opinion
A type of professional opinion given by an attorney to a client.
Judicial Opinion
An opinion of a judge or group of judges that explains an order or ruling in a court
case.
Editorial Opinion
An evaluation of a topic published in a newspaper (editorial page).
WHAT IS TRUTH?
NOTES IN PHILOSOPHY | GRADE 11
WHAT IS OPINION?
A judgment, viewpoint, or statement that is not conclusive.
Epistemology
The study of knowledge.
An opinion may result from a person's perspective, understanding, feelings,
beliefs, and desires.
TYPES OF OPINION ANALYSIS
Normative Analysis – Focuses on what ought to be.
Positive Analysis – Based on scientific observation.
COLLECTIVE AND PROFESSIONAL OPINIONS
Public Opinion
The aggregate of individual attitudes or beliefs held by a population (city, region,
or state).
Group Opinion
Opinions collected from a group of subjects (jury, legislature, committee, or other
decision-making bodies).
Includes concepts of social choice, conformity, and group polarization.
Scientific Opinion
Scientific consensus can be partial, temporary, contingent, conflicting, or
uncertain.
There may not always be an accepted consensus for a particular situation.
Legal Opinion
A type of professional opinion given by an attorney to a client.
Judicial Opinion
An opinion of a judge or group of judges that explains an order or ruling in a court
case.
Editorial Opinion
An evaluation of a topic published in a newspaper (editorial page).
WHAT IS TRUTH?
