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Question 1

What are the two different kinds of truths?

Answer 1

Analytic truth and synthetic truth

Analytic truths are true in virtue of the meaning of the words, while synthetic truths are true in virtue of how the world is.

Question 2

What is an example of an analytic truth?

Answer 2

A bachelor is an unmarried man

Other examples include ‘triangles have three sides’.

Question 3

What is an example of a synthetic truth?

Answer 3

Grass is green

Other examples include ‘water boils at 100°c’.

Question 4

Can analytic truths be denied without contradiction?

Answer 4

No, they cannot be denied without resulting in a logical contradiction.

Question 5

Can synthetic truths be denied without contradiction?

Answer 5

Yes, denial of a synthetic truth does not lead to a logical contradiction.

Question 6

What distinguishes a priori knowledge from a posteriori knowledge?

Answer 6

A priori knowledge can be acquired without experience of the external world, whereas a posteriori knowledge can only be acquired from experience.

Question 7

Give an example of a priori knowledge.

Answer 7

Working out what 900 divided by 7 is.

Question 8

Give an example of a posteriori knowledge.

Answer 8

Doing an experiment to discover the temperature at which water boils.

Question 9

What is rational intuition?

Answer 9

The ability to know something is true just by thinking about it.

Question 10

What is deduction?

Answer 10

A method of deriving true propositions from other true propositions using reason.

Question 11

What is rationalism?

Answer 11

The view that we can acquire some knowledge purely through intuition and deduction.

Question 12

What does empiricism claim about a priori knowledge?

Answer 12

All a priori knowledge is of analytic truths.

Question 13

What does rationalism claim about a priori knowledge?

Answer 13

Not all a priori knowledge is of analytic truths.

Question 14

Name the three synthetic truths Descartes argues for.

Answer 14

• I exist
• God exists
• The external world exists

Question 15

What are the three waves of doubt according to Descartes?

Answer 15

• Illusion
• Dreaming
• Deception

Question 16

What is the significance of Descartes’ ‘cogito ergo sum’?

Answer 16

It asserts that the act of doubting implies a thinking self.

Question 17

What does ‘cogito ergo sum’ translate to?

Answer 17

I doubt, therefore I think, therefore I am.

Question 18

What does Descartes mean by clear and distinct ideas?

Answer 18

Ideas that present themselves as impossible to be false.

Question 19

What is Descartes’ trademark argument?

Answer 19

The argument that the concept of God must originate from a being with infinite reality.

Question 20

What is the causal adequacy principle?

Answer 20

The cause of an effect must have at least as much reality as the effect.

Question 21

What is the Cartesian circle?

Answer 21

The potential circular reasoning in Descartes’ arguments regarding clear and distinct ideas and God’s existence.

Question 22

What is Hume’s Fork?

Answer 22

The distinction between relations of ideas and matters of fact.

Question 23

What are relations of ideas?

Answer 23

Propositions that are intuitively or demonstratively certain.

Question 24

What are matters of fact?

Answer 24

Propositions that can be conceived as false without contradiction.

Question 25

According to Hume, how can knowledge of matters of fact be established?

Answer 25

Through empirical observation.

Question 26

What does Descartes argue about the external world based on God's existence?

Answer 26

That his perceptions of the external world can be trusted.

Question 27

What is global scepticism?

Answer 27

The position of extreme doubt regarding everything one thinks they know.

Question 28

What is a key characteristic of premise 4 in Descartes' argument?

Answer 28

It can only be known as a matter of fact and not a relation of ideas. ## Footnote This implies it can only be known a posteriori.

Question 29

What does Descartes’ trademark argument fail to establish?

Answer 29

Rationalism. ## Footnote This is due to the reliance on a posteriori matters of fact.

Question 30

What does premise 2 of Descartes' argument claim?

Answer 30

My perceptions cannot be caused by my own mind because they are involuntary. ## Footnote This claim is challenged by the possibility of dreams being involuntary yet caused by the mind.

Question 31

What conclusion can be drawn from Descartes' argument for the existence of the external world?

Answer 31

It is not entirely a priori. ## Footnote This further undermines the establishment of rationalism.

Question 32

Define innate knowledge.

Answer 32

Knowledge you’re born with that doesn’t require experience to be known. ## Footnote Innate knowledge is synonymous with a priori knowledge.

Question 33

What is the core debate between rationalism and innatism?

Answer 33

Whether we have innate knowledge or not. ## Footnote Innatism claims we have some innate knowledge, while empiricism denies it.

Question 34

What kind of knowledge is primarily discussed in the context of innate knowledge?

Answer 34

Innate propositional knowledge. ## Footnote This is distinct from innate ability knowledge, such as the ability to breathe.

Question 35

True or False: Empiricism argues that we have some innate knowledge.

Answer 35

False. ## Footnote Empiricism asserts that we do not have any innate knowledge.