epistemology

Question 1

Describe JTB + No False Lemmas

Answer 1

It adds an extra condition to the tripartite definition. It says knowledge is justified true belief + that is not inferred from anything false (a false lemma)

Question 2

Give an example of a false lemma (standard form)

Answer 2

P1 - P is true
P2 - James believes that P
P3 - James’s belief is justified
C - James did not infer that P from anything false

Question 3

How does the fake barn county oppose the JTB + no false lemmas theory

Answer 3

In the county, the locals create fake barns that are identical to real barns, and Henry is driving through the county not knowing this, Henry often thinks - there’s a barn when he looks at fake ones
- These beliefs are not knowledge because they are not true
However, on one occasion Henry looks at a real barn and thinks there’s a brain
- This time the belief is true
- And he is justified to believe there’s a barn
- And it’s not inferred from anything false

According to the no false lemmas definition, Henry’s belief is knowledge, but the no false lemmas definition must be false because Henry’s belief is clearly not knowledge, he’s just lucky in this one instance

Question 4

Why are these beliefs not knowledge?

Answer 4

These beliefs are not knowledge because they are not true

Question 5

What is the standard form for reliabilism?

Answer 5

P1 - P is true
P2 - James believes that P
C - James’s belief that P is caused by a reliable method

Question 6

How is a reliable method defined?

Answer 6

One that produces a high percentage of true beliefs

Question 7

What happens if you form a belief through an unreliable method?

Answer 7

It would not count as knowledge even if the resultant belief is true

Question 8

What is an opposition to reliabilism?

Answer 8

Using the fake barn county argument, Henry’s belief that ‘there’s a barn’ is caused by a reliable process - visual perception. Reliabilism would say that Henry knows ‘there’s a barn’ even though his belief is based on luck