Skepticism

Question 1

What is Descartes’
Dream Argument?

Answer 1

1. If it is possible that I am dreaming right now, then I have reason to doubt whether my current perceptual beliefs are true.
2. It is possible that I am dreaming right now.

Therefore: I have reason to doubt
whether my current perceptual beliefs are true.

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Question 2

What is Descartes’
Malicious God Argument?

Question 3

What is the Brain
in a Vat Argument?

Question 4

What does Descartes
conclude we can
know with certainty?
Reasoning?

Answer 4

As long as he is thinking,
then he exists.

“I think, therefore I am”

“Cogito, ergo sum”

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Question 5

What is the
thesis of Skepticism?

Answer 5

There is no such thing
as genuine knowledge.

Question 6

What do philosophers
mean by the
“external world.”

Answer 6

Assuming: The Dream Argument,
The Malicious God Argument, or The Brain in a Vat Argument:

1. In order to know that I’m awake and not dreaming, I must have evidence that I’m not dreaming.
2. I do not have evidence that guarantees I’m not dreaming.
3. I do not know that I’m awake and not dreaming.
4. If I do not know that I’m awake and not dreaming, then I do not know what’s going on in the external world.
5. I do not know what’s going on in the external world.

Question 7

What is the Fallibilist understanding of Justification required for Knowledge?

Answer 7

I know this,
even though I could be wrong
because I have very good evidence
to support my belief.

Question 8

What is the Infallibilist Justification required for Knowledge?

Answer 8

I know something,
and I cannot be wrong
because I have
guarenteed proof.