Justification Flashcards
consider what counts for a belief to be considered knowledge
What is justification?
For a belief to count as knowledge, it must be justified. For something to be justified, it must have good basis.
What is good basis?
A common agreeance about something.
What are examples that are sufficiently justified to count as knowledge?
EX: I believe that I am living in Boulder. I know this because my address says Boulder, I am in the Boulder zip code, I live near downtown Boulder, and I have looked on a map to see that I am in the Boulder territory. Therefore, I am justified in believing that I live in Boulder.
These are examples that have been justified through personal experience, other people, facts, geography, etc. that make it apparent that you have knowledge about something.
What are beliefs that have some justification but not enough to count as knowledge:
I believe that there are cookies being baked in the kitchen. However, I can’t see the kitchen, so I’m not certain that it is cookies, but it does smell like cookies. While I do have some knowledge, I don’t know that there are cookies baking because I can’t see the kitchen, and it may be some other baked good or a cookie-scented candle that I smell.
These beliefs have some justification but cannot be justified to the extent at which they are considered knowledge.
What beliefs count as knowledge but are not maximally justified?
I ask my mom what my dad’s favorite color is and she says it’s green. I have enough justification to know that his favorite color is green, because my mom and dad are very close and she would know this about him; however, I am not maximally justified because I am not asking my dad himself what his favorite color is.
What is an example where two beliefs are justified but one is more justified than the other?
I ask my friend what time it is and she checks her non-technology watch and says it’s 12:02. I look at my phone and see that the time is 12:02. Both of these beliefs are justified, but I am more justified in believing my phone time because my friends watch may be off by a few seconds or minutes because she set it herself and may have experienced human error (or she may be lying to me)
What is an example where neither belief is justified to be knowledge but one is more justified than the other?
I believe that red is the most common car color in the country because I feel like I see a lot of red cars (not knowledge, not justified to be knowledge).
vs
I believe that red is the most common car color in the country because I see 4 of the 6 cars in the parking lot are red (a bit more justified, but still not enough justification to count as knowledge over the most common car color in the whole country)
What is an example where one belief is sufficiently justified to be knowledge but the other is not?
I believe that I am facing West because I looked at my compass and saw I am facing west (sufficiently justified to be knowledge)
vs.
I believe that I am facing west because my direction is giving me west energy (not sufficiently justified to be knowledge)
What is inferential justification?
The conclusions you get from your reasoning. A belief based on other beliefs. You infer something (like non-perceptual beliefs) and you believe it’s justified.
What is an example of inferential justification?
I believe that mammals have hair and I see a gorilla. I believe that this gorilla is a mammal because it has hair.
What is non-inferential justification?
the thing you believe is just your experience (no reasoning). Things you sense/experience. Comparable to perceptual beliefs. Foundational beliefs.
What is an example of non-inferntial justification?
I believe it smells like roses.
What is an example of a perceptual belief?
you see that there are clouds in the sky so you believe that it is cloudy
Perceptual beliefs
things that you sense/experience and therefore believe.
Non-Perceptual Belief
The things that you don’t perceptually experience but still believe
