Chapter 2: The Nature of Knowledge Terms to Remember

Question 1

knowledge

Answer 1

preliminary def: a justified true belief

• a “thick concept” only understood through experience and reflection
• consisting of: truth, belief & justification

Question 2

truth

Answer 2

independent of what anyone believes is true
-objective requirement for knowledge
[must also be universally and eternally true]

Question 3

belief

Answer 3

subjective requirement for knowledge
there exists a \_\_\_\_\_\_\_-knowledge continuum
-extends from impossible, unlikely, possible, to probable
-certainty becomes knowledge
3 types:
*-vague
-well-supported
-beyond reasonable doubt*

Question 4

vague belief

Answer 4

an idea that something is true, without any source

-readily abandoned w/ the presence of counter-evidence

Question 5

well-supported belief

Answer 5

an idea that something is true, with some evidence, but not certainty

Question 6

belief that is beyond reasonable doubt

Answer 6

an idea that something is true, with evidence to support the claim and flimsy counter-evidence; leads to certainty and “knowing”

Question 7

justification

Answer 7

supports our knowledge claims

• usually appeals to one of the 4 ways of knowing
• acceptability depends on reliability
• dependent on context (when is doubt appropriate?)

Question 8

responsibility

Answer 8

asserting you “know” means you take _________ for its truth

Question 9

facts; values

Answer 9

_________ are different from _________, suggesting an ethical element to the pursuit of knowledge

Question 10

levels of knowledge

Answer 10

understanding grows with in-depth studying

-ranges from superficial grasp to complete mastery

Question 11

information

Answer 11

random facts that may be true, believed and justified, BUT
to be knowledge, this _________ must be organized into a meaningful whole
-need detail and context

Question 12

knowledge by authority/testimony

Answer 12

second-hand knowledge: main source of knowledge is other people (can NEVER be an original source of knowledge)
allows greater range of knowledge when it is shared
remember, none are infallible (limitations):
-cultural tradition
-school
-Internet
-expert opinion
-news media

Question 13

culture

Answer 13

communication of beliefs and practices among generations

-progression of the “wheel” by accumulating achievements of past generations

Question 14

authority worship

Answer 14

blindly accepting without thinking about it

-danger of reliance on second-hand knowledge

Question 15

cultural tradition

Answer 15

embodies “the inherited wisdom of the community”

• strongly influential and may determine “intellectual default settings”
• natural attachment to our beliefs/practices
• point of reference for “reasonability”
• must have balance of living traditions, changing and developing over time (balance b/w respect of traditional thinking & questioning them)

Question 16

school

Answer 16

difference b/w education and indoctrination

the WAY something is taught, not WHAT

Question 17

internet

Answer 17

speed and accessibility; no quality control

-potentially a source of disinformation

Question 18

urban legends

Answer 18

disinformation w/out a basis on fact

Question 19

expert opinion

Answer 19

references to support the knowledge claim with evidence
remember:
-fallibility; may get it wrong
-limited range of competence (highly specialized insight)

Question 20

news media

Answer 20

subjectivity and bias on selection and presentation
3 criteria for selection:
-bad
-extraordinary
-relevancy (domestic)

Question 21

bad news bias

Answer 21

focusing on negativity (crimes, wars, natural disasters)

• devel. pessimistic view
• creates & sustains fear

Question 22

authority

Answer 22

__________ is not an original source of knowledge; thus, the need to justify through perception, reason and intuition
-but cannot completely rely on own judgment (won’t always believe what is actually true)

Question 23

preliminary def: a justified true belief

• a “thick concept” only understood through experience and reflection
• consisting of: truth, belief & justification

Answer 23

knowledge

Question 24

independent of what anyone believes is true
-objective requirement for knowledge
[must also be universally and eternally true]

Answer 24

truth

Question 25

subjective requirement for knowledge
there exists a \_\_\_\_\_\_\_-knowledge continuum
-extends from impossible, unlikely, possible, to probable
-certainty becomes knowledge
3 types:
*-vague
-well-supported
-beyond reasonable doubt*

Answer 25

belief

Question 26

an idea that something is true, without any source

-readily abandoned w/ the presence of counter-evidence

Answer 26

vague belief

Question 27

an idea that something is true, with some evidence, but not certainty

Answer 27

well-supported belief

Question 28

an idea that something is true, with evidence to support the claim and flimsy counter-evidence; leads to certainty and “knowing”

Answer 28

belief that is beyond reasonable doubt

Question 29

supports our knowledge claims

• usually appeals to one of the 4 ways of knowing
• acceptability depends on reliability
• dependent on context (when is doubt appropriate?)

Answer 29

justification

Question 30

asserting you “know” means you take _________ for its truth

Answer 30

responsibility

Question 31

_________ are different from _________, suggesting an ethical element to the pursuit of knowledge

Answer 31

facts; values

Question 32

understanding grows with in-depth studying

-ranges from superficial grasp to complete mastery

Answer 32

levels of knowledge

Question 33

random facts that may be true, believed and justified, BUT
to be knowledge, this _________ must be organized into a meaningful whole
-need detail and context

Answer 33

information

Question 34

second-hand knowledge: main source of knowledge is other people (can NEVER be an original source of knowledge)
allows greater range of knowledge when it is shared
remember, none are infallible (limitations):
-cultural tradition
-school
-Internet
-expert opinion
-news media

Answer 34

knowledge by authority/testimony

Question 35

communication of beliefs and practices among generations

-progression of the “wheel” by accumulating achievements of past generations

Answer 35

culture

Question 36

blindly accepting without thinking about it

-danger of reliance on second-hand knowledge

Answer 36

authority worship

Question 37

embodies “the inherited wisdom of the community”

• strongly influential and may determine “intellectual default settings”
• natural attachment to our beliefs/practices
• point of reference for “reasonability”
• must have balance of living traditions, changing and developing over time (balance b/w respect of traditional thinking & questioning them)

Answer 37

cultural tradition

Question 38

difference b/w education and indoctrination

the WAY something is taught, not WHAT

Answer 38

school

Question 39

speed and accessibility; no quality control

-potentially a source of disinformation

Answer 39

internet

Question 40

disinformation w/out a basis on fact

Answer 40

urban legends

Question 41

references to support the knowledge claim with evidence
remember:
-fallibility; may get it wrong
-limited range of competence (highly specialized insight)

Answer 41

expert opinion

Question 42

subjectivity and bias on selection and presentation
3 criteria for selection:
-bad
-extraordinary
-relevancy (domestic)

Answer 42

news media

Question 43

focusing on negativity (crimes, wars, natural disasters)

• devel. pessimistic view
• creates & sustains fear

Answer 43

bad news bias

Question 44

___________ is not an original source of knowledge; thus, the need to justify through perception, reason and intuition
-but cannot completely rely on own judgment (won’t always believe what is actually true)

Answer 44

authority