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Philosophy 101 > Epistemology đź’ś > Flashcards

Epistemology đź’ś Flashcards

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1
Q

Define Epistemology

A

The study of knowledge

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2
Q

What are two reasons that epistemology matters?

A
  1. Humans may think they (have knowledge) but in reality, it is just belief.
  2. If we are studying knowledge, we are studying the truth. What is the truth?
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3
Q

Define knowledge.
Define belief.

A
  1. Knowledge is a true and justified (w/evidence) belief.
  2. A statement that someone thinks is true.
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4
Q

Define a statement/claim.

A
  1. A sentence that is either true or false.
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5
Q

Define truth.

A

A statement is truthful if it corresponds to reality.

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6
Q

Define evidence.
Define proof.

A
  1. Any information that indicates a statement is true.
  2. Lots of evidence
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7
Q

Why is the study of knowledge so important?

A

Because we humans are never (rarely) 100% certain.

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8
Q

What are the four standards of evidence?

A
  1. 25%
  2. above 50% (preponderance of the evidence)
  3. 75% (clear and convincing evidence)
  4. 100% (absolute certainty)
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9
Q

What is the standard of evidence in civil court? Criminal court?

A
  1. Above 50%= Preponderance of the evidence
  2. 90%= beyond a reasonable doubt
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10
Q

How often do courts reach “absolute certainty”?

A

Never.

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11
Q

Who is the father of Modern philosophy? We are studying one of his texts, what is it called?

A
  1. Descartes
  2. Meditations
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12
Q

What does Descartes’s first meditation argue?

A

We do not know anything for certain. He then proposes a method of making what one believes to be certain uncertain.

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13
Q

What is Descartes’ Method of Doubt?

A

A way of searching for certainty by doubting and questioning every reality. Asking oneself: “Is there ANY way that I may be mistaken in my belief?”

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14
Q

What are Descartes’ Two Skeptical Hypotheses concerning his method of doubt?

A
  1. You may be dreaming.
  2. You may be controlled to believe something false by an evil demon.
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15
Q

What does Descartes’s second meditation argue?

A

There is only one statement that he has found to be for sure true.
“I think, therefore I am.”

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16
Q

What is skepticism according to Descartes in the First Meditation?

A

Skepticism is the theory that nobody knows anything for sure.

17
Q

According to the four standards of evidence…
Are all opinions equal?

A

No, as some opinions have more evidence. Thus, some opinions are more truthful.

18
Q

According to the four standards of evidence…
Is evolutionary theory just a theory?

A

No, because some theories have more evidence than others. Evolutionary Theory is much closer to truth.

19
Q

Who said:
“[a human] is capable of rectifying his mistakes, by discussion and
experience. Not by experience alone. There must be discussion, to
show how experience is to be interpreted.”
-Explain “experience” in this context.
-Explain “interpretation” in this context.

A
  1. John Stewart Mills
  2. Experience refers to observations
  3. Interpretation refers to theories.
20
Q

What is The Undetermination of Theory?

A

The idea is that evidence available to us at a given time may be insufficient to determine what beliefs we should hold in response to it.

21
Q

In regards to The Undetermination of Theory what do
Empiricists emphasize:
Rationalists emphasize:

A
  1. Empiricists emphasize experience and thus observations.
  2. Rationalists emphasize interpretation and thus theories.
22
Q

How do humans get knowledge?

A
  1. Empiricists: The theory that the primary source of knowledge is sensory experience.
  2. Rationalists: The theory that the primary source of knowledge is reason/intellect.
23
Q

Explain the example of “other animals” regarding truth.

A

Sugar tastes different to different animals and thus there is no reason that humans are right about how sugar tastes.

24
Q

What are the three aspects of the “Pain Analogy?” What is this analogy arguing?

A
  1. object outside of mind-> nerve-> pain
  2. Tastes/sounds are similar to pain in that they are all experiences that only exist within your mind after a nerve is stimulated.
25
Q

What are the two views in regards to hearing a sound when a tree falls in the forest?

A
  1. If you define sound as (airwaves) then a sound is made.
  2. If you define sound as (auditory experiences) no sound is made.
26
Q

What are “ad hoc modifications?”

A

Additions to a theory that save the theory from being falsified/refuted/disproven.

27
Q

What is Okham Razor?

A

He argues that the simplest theory is the best as it’s not legitimate to add unnecessary entities. (Good theories do not have unnecessary entities)

Philosophy 101 (8 decks)

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