Quiz 4

Question 1

Epistemology

Answer 1

theory of knowledge

Question 2

Knowledge- claims

Answer 2

assert that we know something

Question 3

Empiricism

Answer 3

view that knowledge is gained through sense experience
A posterior
Mind is a tabula rasa- blank slate

Question 4

A posteriori

Answer 4

adjective for knowledge is gained through senses

“After”, “dependent upon”

Question 5

Rationalism

Answer 5

view that knowledge is gained through reasoning
-Knowledge is eternal, unchanging, universal
A priori
Innate concepts exists in the mind

Question 6

A priori

Answer 6

“before”, “prior to”, independent of sense experience

Question 7

Transcendental Idealism

Answer 7

view that all we can ever know are things as they appear to us, and never as they are in themselves (like the mind has lenses
1. Knowledge requires data from the senses
2. Innate (a priori) concepts that give shape/ organization to the sense data
Attempt to combine empiricism and rationalism

Question 8

Common sense skepticism

Answer 8

• we all doubt the reliability of certain knowledge-claims
• Do not doubt the very possibility of gaining knowledge and that evidence exists for debates to be settled
• Claim could be decided at least in principle

Question 9

Philosophical skepticism

Answer 9

• position that some of all knowledge claims are doubtful or unreliable
• Doubt the very possibility of establishing reliable knowledge about some things (limited skepticism) or about anything at all (total or absolute skepticism)
• Doubts that there could be any method/ evidence that would allow us to reliably establish the truth or falsity of knowledge-claims
  Traditional arguments:
  We can always find some reason to doubt the truth of a claim
  We can give equally forceful arguments for and against a claim
  The sense organs of different animal species are considerably varied

Question 10

Descartes

Answer 10

France, 1596-1650

Question 11

Modernism

Answer 11

everyone is capable of discovering truth

There is no need to consult external authorities (radical for his time)

Question 12

Descartes’ Aims in the Meditations

Answer 12

1. To convert readers from empiricism to rationalism
2. To “establish a firm foundation for the sciences” (any serious research or form of inquiry)
   - A reliable method for gaining knowledge (“certain and -indubitable beliefs” - cannot be rationally doubted)
   - Establish some axiomatic beliefs (fundamental, certain, and indubitable beliefs)

Question 13

Descartes’ preliminary method: Skeptics (doubt)

Answer 13

he is going to try to out-doubt the skeptics
Doubt so deeply that he will find something that he cannot doubt
Use doubt to discover something indubitable
“Method of doubt”; “Radical doubt”; “Methodological doubt”

Question 14

Epistemic Principle

Answer 14

A belief about what counts as a reliable source of knowledge

This belief functions as a policy/ guide for accepting beliefs as true or rejecting beliefs as false or possibly false

Question 15

Perceptual Belief

Answer 15

a belief that is formed on the basis of sense perception

Question 16

Meditation I

Answer 16

Descartes wants to dismantle his entire system of beliefs and then rebuild from the foundation
He has to reject ALL beliefs because all connected
Doesn’t need to find that all beliefs are false; just needs to realize that they have some degree of unreliability/ doubtfulness
Doesn’t look at each belief individually (endless task)
Its enough to look at foundation (ep) upon which beliefs rest

Question 17

Method of doubt

Answer 17

asking if there are rational grounds for doubting the reliability of a belief
The doubt cuts in 2 ways:
1. To get rid of unreliable principles
2. To find a principle that cannot be doubted

Question 18

Principle I and objection

Answer 18

whatever is sensed exits as it appears to the senses (all sense perceptions and all perceptual beliefs based upon them are reliable)
Objection: the senses are deceptive at times, notably when external, physical conditions for sensing are not idea (ex: when the object is too small or far away)
Being deceived by the senses even once casts doubt on the reliability of P1

Question 19

Principle II and objection

Answer 19

whatever is sensed under ideal external physical conditions for sensing exists as it appears to the senses
Objection: it is possible for the perceiver to be in an unreliable state of consciousness for having sense perceptions (ex: dreaming)
He thinks that if he has been wrong even once about his state of consciousness (ex: thinking he’s awake when he’s really asleep), P2 is unreliable)