Ancient Philosophy

Question 1

What is an a priori argument?

Answer 1

An argument that draws to conclusion through the use of reason and logic.

Question 2

What is Rationalism?

Answer 2

The idea that priori reasoning is the best way to gain knowledge

Question 3

What is a posteriori?

Answer 3

An argument that draws to conclusion based on observation through experience

Question 4

What is Empiricism?

Answer 4

The idea that a posteriori is the best way to gain knowledge

Question 5

One strength of a priori argument?

Answer 5

If you accept the premise then the conclusion must be true as it’s logically necessary

Question 6

Second strength of a priori argument

Answer 6

It’s immune to being disproved by science. There’s no danger of a new science discovery or theory coming along to weaken the argument

Question 7

Third strength of a priori reasoning

Answer 7

Democritus was a thinker in the 400 BC. He used both reason and logic to discover that you can break down particles into smaller particles which are unbreakable and they are called non-divisables.

Question 8

One weakness of a priori

Answer 8

If the premise is incorrect the whole argument can fall into pieces

Question 9

Second weakness of a priori

Answer 9

It’s difficult to prove the existence of God because God is beyond the constraints of logic , therefore priori reasoning is unhelpful here

Question 10

One strength of a posteriori

Answer 10

Can gain support from evidence therefore it can be verified

Question 11

One weakness of a posteriori

Answer 11

Can only give us provisional knowledge because it’s always possible additional experiences could prove our conclusions wrong . For eg; all swans are white.

Question 12

Second strength of a posteriori

Answer 12

Science has disproven a posteriori truths many times, what we once thought was true.