A Priori Knowledge Flashcards
What is the a priori/a prosteriori distinction? What is the analytic/synthetic distinction?
A priori knowledge is knowledge of propositions that don’t require sense experience to be true/false. Propositions only established via sense experience are a prosteriori.
Analytic propositions are true in virtue of their constituent terms, i.e., true by definition. A proposition is synthetic if it isn’t analytic.
What is moderate rationalism?
There is a priori knowledge, but it derived entirely from meaning or definition. Kant: analytic (predicate contained in subject). True simply by recognising relationship that obtains.
Obj: Kant’s synthetic a priori. 7+5=12. Beyond experience, but not reached by analysis of concepts.
Rep: makes psychological mistake. Known via construction of mind.
What is Quine’s view regarding analyticity? Begin by outlining Carnap’s principle of tolerance.
Carnap ‘principle of tolerance’ - analytic on dif. epistemological footing. Analytic choice of language, synthetic answerable to evidence.
Quine rejects this difference. Change in mind about analytic is change in language, but can also make revisions similar to synthetic sentences.
What is Quine’s holistic approach?
Our sentences don’t have implications when take 1by1. What has experiential implication is as larger chunk of theory. What matters is a sentence’s relation to experience of some larger chunk of theory. Other factors play a role (f=ma).
Outline objections raised against Quine.
Obj: logic and maths appear to be necessary a priori.
Rep: no experience confirms 2+2=4 (not Frege stones). But earns its place in body of knowledge by contributing to success of that body. Necessary because role to play in all branches.
Obj: begs question. How can claim holistic approach is right standard be justified?
Rep: served purpose so far.
Rep: a priori too obscure.
What is Williamson’s view regarding a priori/a posteriori distinction?
Distinction superficial. Not epistemologically important. Cognitive skills used in both similar cf. imagination. Fundamentally similar in both.
Obj: we can make distinction of empirical vs understanding bases. Cf. comparing length comparison vs length judging.
