Epistemology - Responses To JTB Flashcards
What is the ‘no false lemmas’ condition?
You did not infer that p from a false belief.
This condition is added to the definition of knowledge to ensure that beliefs are not derived from incorrect premises.
What are the four conditions for knowledge? (J+T+B+N)
- p is true
- you believe that p
- your belief that p is justified
- you did not infer that p from a false belief
These conditions aim to refine the definition of knowledge beyond mere belief.
What does the term ‘lemma’ refer to in the context of arguments?
A claim part way through an argument.
An example of a lemma is ‘Jones will get the job’ in the context provided.
Does the ‘no false lemmas’ condition fully address the problem of truth and justification ‘coming apart’?
No.
There are Gettier cases that meet the ‘no false lemmas’ condition but still do not constitute knowledge.
In the example with Dr. Jones and Smith, what is the true condition of Smith’s health?
Smith has the unknown virus Y.
Despite Dr. Jones believing Smith has virus X based on evidence, the actual cause of symptoms is virus Y.
Why does Dr. Jones not know that Smith has virus X?
Her belief is based on evidence that is irrelevant to the actual condition.
The evidence indicating virus X is actually due to virus Y, making her justified belief insufficient for knowledge.
True or False: A justified belief can still be considered knowledge if it is based on a false belief.
False.
The ‘no false lemmas’ condition ensures that knowledge cannot be derived from false premises.
Fill in the blank: You know that p if and only if p is true, you believe that p, your belief that p is justified, and you did not infer that p from a _______.
false belief.
This addition aims to refine the understanding of knowledge.
What is infallibilism?
Argues that knowledge is certain - justification requires certainty, thus we can say that if a belief isn’t certain, then it is not justified, or it is not sufficiently justified to count as knowledge.
Infallibilism attempts to make justification so strong so that truth and justification cannot come apart - impossible for a justified belief to be FALSE. This renders Gettier’s cases’ impossible.
P1) Nobody can know what is false.
C1) THEREFORE, if i know that p, then i can’t be mistaken that p
C2) THEREFORE, for justification to secure knowledge, justification must guarantee truth.
C3) THEREFORE, if i am justified in believing that p I can’t possibly be mistaken.
C4) THEREFORE, if it is possible that i am mistaken, then i can’t be justified in believing that p.
C5) THEREFORE, infallibilism is true.
TRUE OF FALSE; Does infallibilism defend JTB?
YES
Rules out Gettier cases’ as they are not JTB.
What is a problem with infallibilism?
The fallacy of equivocation.
C1) (a) It can’t be the case that if i know that p, I am mistaken that p.
OR
C1) (b) If i know that p, then i can’t possibly be mistaken that p.
There are many cases of perception/memory where I can be mistaken
C1(a) is inferred from P1
C1(b) is used to support C3.
What is reliabilism?
S knows that p iff
I) p is true
II) s believes that p is true
III) s forms the belief that p through a reliable cognitive process.
What is a reliable cognitive process?
RCP; belief forming process that has a higher rate of leading to true beliefs than false ones e.g, memory, perception etc.
Counterexamples for R+T+B=K
Renders smith and jones counterexample;
Q is logically entailed within p - ‘p’ is a RB
P->Q is a valid deductive inference (reasoning is a RCP)
Q is not a RB as it isn’t formed from a RCP. THEREFORE, no RCP but TB = K
Gettier then presents the fake barn county example;
Vision is a RCP - but it wasn’t knowledge -> R+T+B DID NOT = K
It is a matter of luck that his belief that he saw a barn was true under one instance. RELIABILISTS have to say that he DID KNOW there was a barn as it’s inferred from a RCP. (Vision)
What is VIRTUE EPISTEMOLOGY?
S knows that p iff
I) s believes that p
II) p is true and
III) your belief that p is the result of you exercising your ‘epistemic’ or ‘intellectual’ virtues.
What is an act of epistemic virtue?
Traits that enable us to acquire the truth - knowledge if a form of achievement, VE focuses on the person and what they DO in forming their beliefs.
Motivated by the desire to reach the truth and achieves its goal of reaching the truth.
What is an issue with EV + T = K?
It can be unclear when a belief is true ‘as a result’ of exercising intellectual virtues.
OR
Can children and animals exercise intellectual virtues?
