1. "Men in Black" on Knowledge

Trying to convince soon-to-be Agent J (Will Smith's character) to join his agency, Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones' character) says to him: "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it. Everything they've ever 'known' has been proven to be wrong. A thousand years ago everybody knew as a fact, that the earth was the center of the universe. Five hundred years ago, everybody knew that the Earth was flat, and fifteen minutes ago, you knew that humans were alone on it....Imagine what you'll know tomorrow.

Issues & questions to consider:

1) What does the word "know," in the various forms used in this quote from the third sentence on, mean? Is it referring to knowledge as philosophy has traditionally defined it?

2) Does the word "know," as it is used from the third sentence on, mean the same thing as Agent K's use of know in the second sentence? What do you make of this apparent irony?

3) What does Agent K's statement imply about the nature of human knowledge? Is it progressive? Is it provisional? How would you describe the nature of the knowledge claims Agent K refers to from 1000 years ago, 500 years ago, and 15 minutes ago?

4) What does Agent K's statement imply about the value and/or validity of "consensus gentium" (or "common sense") as a basis, or "good reason," for claiming to know something?