Epistemology: Percption- 01. Empiricism vs Rationalism Flashcards
What is the difference between deductive and inductive arguments?
Deductive arguments must be true if all premises are true; inductive arguments are only unlikely to be false if all premises are true.
What do Empiricists argue about the origin of knowledge?
All knowledge starts in the senses.
What do Rationalists argue about knowledge?
Some knowledge can begin A priori in the mind.
What is perception?
Awareness of apparently external objects through use of the senses.
What does Direct Realism state about perception?
The tree makes a sound and we hear it as it is.
What does Indirect Realism suggest about perception?
The tree creates vibrations that we interpret as sound via sensa data.
What does Idealism claim regarding perception?
The tree is imaginary, so cannot exist or make sounds without being perceived.
What are Innatists’ beliefs about ideas?
We are born with ideas in the mind.
What does the Intuition and Deduction Thesis state?
We can learn things through pure thought or rational intuition alone.
Who is known for taking empiricism to a skeptical level?
David Hume.
What did John Stuart Mill contribute to empiricism?
He developed inductive methods to understand causation.
What is Alfred Ayer known for?
Arguing that only statements verifiable through experience are meaningful.
What is Baruch Spinoza’s view on reason?
He saw reason as central to understanding the universe.
What did Immanuel Kant argue regarding innate knowledge?
Certain structures of knowledge are innate in the mind, such as space, time, and causality.
What is Saul Kripke known for in philosophy?
Exploring modal logic and arguing that necessity and possibility are accessible through reason.
What is the most obvious answer to how we gain knowledge of what is outside our minds?
Sense experience.
What are the primary senses involved in sense experience?
- Sight
- Hearing
- Smell
- Taste
- Touch
What is a fun fact about the number of human senses?
We have anywhere between 8 and 22 senses, depending on how you split them up.
In the example of a pink rock in a dark room, what is the key question?
Is the rock still pink?
What happens to perception when you shrink to the size of an ant on a flat table?
The table looks craggier than it was before.
True or False: Empiricists believe that all knowledge originates from the mind.
False.
Fill in the blank: The tree creates vibrations that we interpret as sound via _______.
sensa data.
What is the primary focus of the Rationalist position?
The existence of innate knowledge or the ability to deduce knowledge without experience.
