What is the Gettier problem?

The Gettier problem is a philosophical challenge to the traditional definition of knowledge as justified true belief. It was introduced by Edmund Gettier in 1963 through his paper titled "Is Justified True Belief Knowledge?" The problem arises from the recognition that there can be cases where a belief is both justified and true, yet it does not seem to qualify as knowledge.

Gettier presented counterexamples to the traditional definition by proposing scenarios where someone holds a justified true belief, but due to luck or other factors, their belief does not meet the standard of knowledge. These counterexamples challenge the idea that knowledge can be reduced to a simple combination of justification and truth.

The Gettier problem highlights the limitations of the traditional definition of knowledge and has led to various proposed solutions and revisions to the concept of knowledge. It has sparked debates and discussions among epistemologists, leading to the development of alternative theories and approaches to understanding knowledge.