Part 1 - Theory

Question 1

What is realism?

Answer 1

The view that something is real

Question 2

What is anti-realism?

Answer 2

The view that something is not real

Question 3

What are the 2 Axes (according to Brock and Mares) needed for something to be real?

Answer 3

Existence

Mind-independence

Question 4

What does is mean for something to be mind independent?

Answer 4

You could stop thinking about it and it would still exist

Question 5

What box do Brock and Mares believe nothing can go in?

Answer 5

The box of non-existence and mind-dependence

Question 6

What are the steps of the Quinean Argument for realism? (PPC)

Answer 6

(P1) We should believe that X exists if our accepted theories are ontologically commited to X
(P2) The theories we accept are ontologically committed to Xs
(C) We should believe that Cs exist

Question 7

What is the main question that the Quinean Argument for realism leaves you with? (and what’s the answer)

Answer 7

What “theories should we accept”

A: Use the form of inference being the best information

Question 8

What is ontological commitment?

Then say what the statement “My neighbour washes his car ever morning” is ontologically committed to

Answer 8

The things that a theory implicitly/explicitly says exists
e.g.
That statement is ontologically committed to neighbours, cars and possibly mornings

Question 9

What does the Argument from Parsimony use for premise 2?

Answer 9

a version of Ockham’s Razor: If Xs are superfluous to our explanatory needs then Xs do not exist

Question 10

What is the Argument from Parsimony?

Answer 10

(P1) Xs are superfluous to our explanatory needs because…
(P2) Ockham’s razor: If Xs are superfluous to our explanatory needs, then Xs do not exist
(C) Xs do not exist

Question 11

Use the Argument from Parsimony to explain why Aliens don’t exist

Answer 11

(P1) Instances of aliens (e.g. crop circles) are superfluous to our explanatory needs (because there are simpler explanations like farmers, confusion)
(P2) Ockham’s razor would dictate that if aliens are superfluous to our explanatory needs then they do not exist
(C) Aliens do not exist

Question 12

What can combat the Argument from Parsimony?

Answer 12

1) Reducible properties

Question 13

What are reducible properties?

Answer 13

Being able to reduce the property of a seemingly outrageous theory to something less controversial
This makes the theory non-superfluous, undermining Parsimony

Question 14

Undermine the theory of Aliens not being real with reducible properties

Answer 14

Aliens are simply “foreign” people that we do not know or understand
People we do not know are not superfluous and so cannot be disproved with Parsimony

Question 15

What can combat reducible properties?

Answer 15

Attitude Problems

Question 16

What are Attitude Problems?

Answer 16

Taking the attitude of how people react to the initial theory, and contrasting it with the attitude of how people react to the reduced theory to prove that they aren’t the same thing

Question 17

Go through the argument for Attitude Problems

Answer 17

(P1) Xs elicit a certain attitude in people
(P2) Ys don’t elicit that kind of attitude
(C) Xs aren’t reducible to Ys

Question 18

Use Attitude Problems for the reducible argument for Aliens (aliens = foreigners)

Answer 18

(P1) Normal people are afraid of aliens
(P2) Normal people aren’t afraid of foreign people that they don’t know
(C) aliens and foreign people we don’t know aren’t the same thing