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PHIL Exam 2
Epistemology
48
Philosophy
Undergraduate 2
09/25/2012

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Term
Describe Propositional Knowledge
Definition
-knowledge as truth claims
ex. I know the JFK was the president
-the kind epistemology is concerned with
Term
Describe the Socratic Method
Definition
consists of asking and answering questions to find truth
Term
Describe Traditional Definition of Knowledge
Definition
Justified True Belief (JTB)
S knows p IFF
1. S believes p to be true
2. P is really true
3. S is justified/has good reasons to believe p
Term
Describe the Gettier Problem
Definition
-you may have JTB but is it sufficient for knowledge?
Responses:
1. Strengthening Justification-certainty
2. Adding a 4th Condition- JTB+____
-Infinite Regress: how do you know if the justification is true?
-Casual Connection
-Defeasibility Condition
Term
Define the following:

1. Defeasibility Condition
2. Defeater
Definition
1. for a belief in p there must be no competing proposition where it would cause p to be false
2. competing proposition that would cause p to be false
Term
Define the following:

1. Skepticism
2. Skeptical Thesis
Definition
1. To suspend judgment concerning knowledge claims
2. No one knows anything
Term
Describe the following types of Skepticism:

1. Mitigated
2. Unmitigated
3. Global
4. Metaphysical
Definition
1. the skeptical thesis is true, but I do not know its true, I just believe it is
2. the skeptical thesis is true, and I know its true
3. same as unmitigated
4. I know some things (analytical and empirical) but cannot know other things (metaphysical)
Term
Describe Systematic Doubt
Definition
Descartes
-Senses
-Reason
-Dreaming Hypothesis
-Evil Demon Hypothesis (Matrix)
Term
Describe David Hume's 2 Categories of Knowledge:

1. Relations of Ideas
2. Matters of Fact
Definition
1. logically true but tell nothing about reality
ex. math, definitions
2. claims about reality based on perceptions that can never be certain
Term
Describe the following:

1. Egocentric Predicament
2. Epistemic Humility
Definition
1. not being able to view reality outside of our own perceptions
2. realizing the limitations of human cognitive abilities
Term
Describe the following:

1. Analytic Proposition
2. Synthetic Proposition
Definition
1. predicate is contained in the subject
2. predicate adds something to the subject
Term
Define the following types of Knowledge:

1. A priori
2. A posteriori
Definition
1. not dependent on the senses
2. depends on evidence from sense experience
Term
Define the following:

1. Rationalism
2. Empiricism
Definition
1. we know everything already; learning is a process of recollection of what we already know; some knowledge comes from other means besides sensory experience
2. man is born with a blank slate on which sense experiences write everything; all knowledge comes from sense experience
Term
Define the following Latin terms:

1. Tabula Rasa
2. Cogito ergo sum
3. Noumena
4. Phenomena
Definition
1. blank slate; the mind that we are born with that all knowledge is written upon; John Locke
2. I think, therefore I am; Descartes
3. raw data; provided by reality that is then manipulated
4. knowledge that was manipulated and organized from raw data; Kant
Term
Define the following:

1. Intuition
2. Geometric Method
Definition
1. knowledge arrived at immediately
2. Descartes idea to reach true conclusions; made of theorems and deduction
Term
Describe the Ontological Argument
Definition
-Descartes argument that proved the existence of God
-he thought he could then prove existence of matter, God, and himself
Term
Describe the following:

1. External Sensation
2. Internal Reflection
Definition
1. enter our minds as passive, simple ideas
2. our mind creates complex ideas through combination, comparison and contrast, and abstraction from the simple ideas
Term
Describe Locke's Epistemological Dualism
Definition
-two elements in knowing:
1. the object out there that we perceive
2. the representation of it in our minds, our ideas
Term
Describe the Transcendental Argument
Definition
You can't observe the object itself, but its existence is necessary for you to observe it
Term
Define the following:

1. Categories of understanding
2. Synthetic a priori knowledge
Definition
1. things we are born with that help us understand sense experience
2. same thing
Term
Define the following:

1. Correspondence Theory of Truth
2. Coherence Theory of Truth
3. Pragmatic Theory of Truth
Definition
1. a proposition is true if it corresponds with the facts of reality
2. a proposition is true if it corresponds with other true propositions
3. a proposition is true if it is successful in explaining phenomena or in achieving desired consequences
Term
Describe Noetic Structure
Definition
-structure of ones belief system
-explains how they fit together
-foundationalism vs. coherentism
Term
Define Epistemic Deontology
Definition
-we have a duty to be responsible in justifying our beliefs
-do we have to know that we know
Term
Describe Foundationalism
Definition
-all beliefs are divided into basic and non basic beliefs
-the most foundational beliefs are properly basic beliefs (beliefs needing no justification)
Term
Describe Coherentism
Definition
-all beliefs fall into one category
-no beliefs are more foundational than another
-some beliefs are more central than others
Term
What are the 3 problems with Coherentism?
Definition
1. Circularity
-how do you justify each belief if they all cohere together
2. Isolation
-beliefs are isolated from the outside world
-as long as they cohere with each other, they work in this system
-how does one justify the first belief
3. Plurality
-it is possible to have two systems that are incompatible
Term
What are the 3 characteristics of Noetic Structure?
Definition
1. includes all the beliefs of a person
-true and false
2. recognizes differing degrees of certainty
3. characterized by how beliefs are related together
Term
Describe Strong Foundationalism

1. 3 criteria for a basic belief
2. Basing Relation
3. 2nd and 3rd criticism
Definition
1. a. self evidential
b. incorrigible (I feel pain)
c. evident to the senses (I see green)

2. relation between basic and non basic is deductive; the truth of basic guarantees truth of non basic

3. a. criteria are self defeating
b. the "myth of the given"
Term
Describe Modest Foundationalism

1. 3 criteria for a basic belief
2. Basing Relation
Definition
1. a. self evidential
b. indefeasible in absence of defeaters
c. Prima Facie Justified (self presenting at face value)

2. not as strict as foundational; induction, abduction, concurrence
-basic make non belief probable but not certain
Term
Define Internalism and Externalism
Definition
Internalism-Justification requires that one be able to have internal access (through reflection) to one’s reasons that support one’s beliefs

Externalism-A belief is warranted or has positive epistemic status if it is formed by properly functioning cognitive processes even if I am not aware of such processes
Term
Define the following:

1. Reliablism
2. Evidentialism
Definition
1. Justification is a condition that occurs when one’s cognitive faculties are working reliably
2. every belief justified by another more foundational belief
Term
Describe the following with Internalism:

1. Motivation
2. Evidentialism
3. Problems with Clifford
Definition
1. epistemic responsibility to form responsible beliefs; can only due this by justifying beliefs
2. every belief must be supported by another more foundational belief
3. Clifford provides no evidence for his belief; standard is too high
Term
Describe the following with Externalism:

1. Motivation
2. How are processes reliable?
Definition
1. it accords with out basic intuitions with most our beliefs
-most people believe things without knowing why
2. Don’t have to answer that question to be justified – they either are or aren’t – the fact of their reliability is what makes one justified, not that we know they are reliable
-there is no reason to no trust the senses
Term
Describe Rapprochement
Definition
1. some beliefs we are warranted in trusting (memories and senses)
2. we have epistemic duty to withhold affirming some beliefs without evidence (cure for cancer)
-both are necessary
-externalism can incorporate internalism
Term
Describe the arguments for and against the Correspondence Theory
Definition
For: accords with our most basic intuitions about truth
-links truth with reality which provides us a reliable check on the truthfulness of propositions

Against:
-we may not see reality equally
-does not apply to non factual claims
-does not account for the Liar's Paradox
Term
Describe the arguments for and against the Coherence Theory
Definition
For:
-helps establish truth about areas where facts may not be known
-many systems work this way (ethics, math, politics)

Against:
-necessary for truth but not a sufficient condition
-how does one start the system
-not concerned with the real world, only systems of beliefs
Term
Describe Plato’s theory of knowledge
Definition
-learning is a process of what we already know
-there are two worlds; this one (world of becoming) and the world with all the perfect "forms" (being)
-we innately know everything but during birth knowledge was lost in our subconscious
Term
Describe Descartes two operations in philosophy
Definition
Intuition- knowledge arrived at immediately
Deduction- conclusions that must be true
Term
What are John Locke's famous government writings and Bible commentaries?
Definition
-Essay Concerning Human Understanding and Two Treatises Of Civil Government (1690)
-Later years wrote Bible commentaries
Term
Describe Locke's division of knowledge

1. External sensations
2. Internal reflection
Definition
1. enter our minds as passively simple ideas
2. our mind actively creates complex ideas through combination, compare and contrast, and abstraction
Term
Describes Hume's radical empiricism and extreme conclusion
Definition
-sense knowledge is the only kind of knowledge of reality there is
Conclusion: rejected all metaphysical claims on knowledge (time, mind, casual connection)
Term
How did Kant agree and disagree with Hume?
How did he argue his points?
Definition
Agree: reasoning
Disagree: conclusion
-Kant believed you could know about time and space

*Argued transcendentally
-if they are there, there must be space for them to occupy
Term
Explain Kant’s Copernican revolution
Definition
Our mind does not conform to reality, reality conforms to our minds in a way we understand it. It is actively shaping the world in accordance with our categories of understanding
Term
Know Conclusion to Kant – what can we know and what can’t we know.
Definition
-cannot know the real world without categories of understanding
-what is known through them is certain
Term
Explain 2nd, 3rd and last of the modes of doubt from Pyrrho
Definition
Nothing whatsoever is certain and therefore the wise man will always suspend judgment on all matters

2nd: differences in human beings
3rd: differences between sense organs
Last: differences of occurrence
Term
Describe the 4 parts of systematic doubt from Descartes
Definition
1. Senses
2. Reason
3. Dreaming Hypothesis
4. Evil Demon Hypothesis
Term
Describe the following from David Hume:

Hume's Fork
1. relation of ideas
2. matters of fact
Definition
1. a. relations of ideas-logically true and therefore true but tell nothing about reality (math, definitions)
b. matters of fact- claims about reality based on perceptions, but can never be certain
Term
Know three types of knowledge and which epistemology deals with
Definition
1. Acquaintance: I know John
2. Competency: I know Spanish
*3. Truth Claims: I know Obama is president*
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