lecture 1

Question 1

6 ways we acquire knowledge

Answer 1

1. method of tenacity
2. method of intuition
3. method of authority
4. Rational methods
5. The empirical method
6. The scientific method

Question 2

method of tenacity

Answer 2

1. method of tenacity: “that’s the way it’s always been” common sense/ folk wisdom
   ex) opposites attract, knock on wood, an apple a day keeps the doctor away

Question 3

method of intuition

Answer 3

2. method of intuition: “a have a feeling” making connections
   ex) wearing the same socks all playoffs because you made the playoffs wearing them

Question 4

method of authority

Answer 4

3. method of authority: “I’m just going to google it” be cautiously optimistic
   ex) teacher, textbook, google

Question 5

rational method

Answer 5

4. Rational methods: “I can figure it out” premise statement + premise statement + premise statement = argument
   can be harder than it looks
   ex) all university students are human, some humans are left-handed, therefore, some students are left-handed: not logical because just because some humans are left handed doesn’t mean some students will be

Question 6

empirical method

Answer 6

5. The empirical method: “I saw it with my own eyes” Can we trust ourselves? ex) black and blue dress & white and gold dress

Question 7

the scientific method

Answer 7

1. Make observations
2. Think of a question
3. Form a hypothesis
4. Make a prediction
5. Gather data
6. Evaluate hypothesis
7. Develop a more general theory