Epistemology

Question 1

What is a priori knowledge

Answer 1

A priori knowledge is gained through reason. Such truths include mathematics, the cogito, law of identity (Leibniz’s law)

Question 2

What is a a posteriori knowledge

Answer 2

A posteriori knowledge is gained through the senses – they refer to things of experience. You cannot know the front door is green by reading the proposition until you experience its green properties, now you know a posteriori that it it.

Question 3

What are analytic propositions

Answer 3

Analytic statements are ones which are true by virtue of their definitions. For example, all bachelors are unmarried men is an analytic statement because, by definition, a bachelor is an unmarried man, and thus the statement is self-verified. This is because the predicate of the proposition is already contained within the subject

Question 4

What are synthetic propositions

Answer 4

Synthetic statements are anything which is not analytic e.g. all swans are white is not necessarily true because you can get black swans. This is because the predicate (white) is not contained within the subject (swan) – unlike married man which is contained within bachelor.

Question 5

What are necessary propositions

Answer 5

Necessary propositions are ones which must be true in all possible words. For example, nothing can be red all over and green all over at the same time, it is paradoxical. Mathematics are often believed to be necessary truths.

Question 6

What are contingent propositions

Answer 6

Contingent propositions therefore are ones which can be false; they do not have to be true. The connection is all necessary truths are knowable a priori, and all a priori truths are necessary. Same goes for a posteriori and contingent truths.

Question 7

What is Kant’s view on synthetic a priori

Answer 7

Kant rightly pointed out that 5+7=12 is synthetic a priori, because there is nothing contained within the numbers 5 and 7 which would inherently suggest 12 – A.J. Ayer disagreed with him