Induction And Deduction Thesis

Question 1

What is synthetic ?

Answer 1

Denial doesn’t entail a contradiction - adds something new to the concepts/subject.

Question 2

What is a priori?

Answer 2

Gained without the use of experience + justified without the use of experience.

Question 3

Why is analytic a posteriori not possible?

Answer 3

Analytic claims cannot be justified with experience.

Question 4

What is an intuition?

Answer 4

Direct and non-inferential grasping of abstract truths.

Question 5

What is an a priori/rational intuition?

Answer 5

Capacity to grasp intuitions through the use of reasoning alone.

Question 6

What is deduction?

Answer 6

Reasoning (inference) in which the premises are intended to entail the conclusion. (If premise is true, conc must be true)

Question 7

What is a priori deduction?

Answer 7

Use of deduction where the premises of the arguments used do not require experience.

Question 8

What does Descartes say about the intuition and deduction thesis?

Answer 8

At least SOME synthetic a priori knowledge is possible through the use of a priori intuition and a priori deduction.
We can use truth that doesn’t require experience to using reasoning that doesn’t depend on experience to discover new truths which are certain.

Question 9

What does Descartes say about A PRIORI and NON-INFERENTIAL?

Answer 9

A priori - no further empirical evidence needed.
Non-inferential - they are grasped immediately e.g logic, maths etc.

NOT PRONE TO PHILOSOPHICAL DOUT.

Question 10

What is an a priori foundation?

Answer 10

A priori intuitions and distinct ideas can be deductible through reason to create further knowledge ( SYNTHETIC A PRIORI KNOWLEDGE )

Question 11

What do empiricists say about synthetic a priori knowledge?

Answer 11

They say there are no a priori synthetic propositions about the world external to our minds.

Question 12

What does Hume’s fork establish?

Answer 12

Objects of knowledge;
1) relation of ideas
2) matters of fact

Question 13

What are ROI?

Answer 13

• Justified a priori
• True due to meaning of ideas/concepts
• Denial does entail contradiction
• Inconceivable to be false
• Necessary truths
• Cannot be substantial truths about the world.

Question 14

What are MOF?

Answer 14

• Justified a posteriori
• True because of how the world is
• Contingent truths
• Can be substantial truths about the world
• Can be false
• Denial doesn’t entail contradiction

Question 15

What is Descartes’ theory of clear and distinct ideas?

Answer 15

An account of rational intuition
- Clear idea; present and accessible to an attentive mind
- Distinct idea; sharply separated from all other ideas so that every part is clear.

Question 16

What is the trademark argument?

Answer 16

Descartes identifies 3 sources of ideas;
- outside the mind
- invented
- innate

Question 17

What is the causal adequacy principle? (TRADEMARK)

Answer 17

Descartes argues that all causes must have at least as much reality as their effects.

Question 18

Apply the causal adequacy principle to the TRADEMARK argument.

Answer 18

Descartes argues that only God has as much reality as what the concept of God represents ( something infinitive and perfect - SPB ).
The concept cannot be invented by the self ( ME ) and isn’t derived a posteriori - therefore, it must be innate.

Question 19

How do empiricists object to the TRADEMARK?

Answer 19

Empiricists object to Descartes that we invented the idea of God by negating ideas of imperfection and being finite.
They also object to the causal adequacy principle; Descartes assumption that ALL ideas have a cause.

Question 20

Descartes argument for physical objects/external world

Answer 20

Descartes argues that our concept of a physical object ( WAX EXAMPLE ) cannot be derived from its sensory properties due to them being able to change.
He argues our concept of a physical object is of something extended and changeable - this is clear and distinct, thus physical objects are possible.

Question 21

Argument for the existence of physical objects.

Answer 21

1) Because sensory experiences are involuntary, we can know that we don’t cause them (through the mind).
2) God is NOT a deceiver, therefore the perceptions aren’t caused by God
3) Therefore, the physical objects must exist in the external world.