The Theory of Knowledge

Question 1

No false lemmas

Explanation

Answer 1

Every Gettier case stems from a false belief earlier in the argument

Question 2

No false lemmas

Definition

Answer 2

S believes P is true
P is true
S is justified in believing P
S did not infer P from a false belief

Question 3

No false lemmas

Example

Answer 3

Smith falsely believed Jones would get the job

Question 4

No false lemmas

Criticisms

Answer 4

Some cases don’t have false lemmas

Eg: fake barns analogy

Question 5

Infallablism

Explanation

Answer 5

Problem with Gettier cases justification isn’t strong enough

Question 6

Infallablism

Definition

Answer 6

S believes P is true
P is true
S is justified in believing P

Question 7

Infallablism

Examples

Answer 7

Smith didn’t have enough justification for his belief

Question 8

Infallablism

Criticisms

Answer 8

Asks too much, we will never know everything

The amount of justification needed is subjective

Question 9

Reliablism

Explanation

Answer 9

Replaces justification with ‘a reliable method or process’

Question 10

Reliablism

Definition

Answer 10

S believes P is true
P is true
The belief that P is true is a result of using a reliable process

Question 11

Reliablism

Examples

Answer 11

Chicken sexers

Animals know things that they can’t justify

Question 12

Reliablism

Criticisms

Answer 12

Vague
What is 100% reliable?
Fake barns
False lemmas

Question 13

Virtue epistemology

Explanation

Answer 13

You don’t need justification if you have epistemic virtues. They use the values they hold in order to evaluate a situation

Question 14

Virtue Epistemology

Definition

Answer 14

S believes P
P is true
S’s belief is a result of exercising intellectual or epistemic virtues

Question 15

Virtue Epistemology

Sosa

Answer 15

Sosa says a well-trained archer, just like an epistemic thinker, needs to be:
Accurate - his beliefs are true
Adroit - uses virtuous methods
Apt - he arrives at true belief because he is adroit (not by luck)

Question 16

Virtue Epistemology

Examples

Answer 16

The problem with the fake barns case is that Harry uses ‘animal knowledge’ (TB = ordinary perception) instead of ‘reflective knowledge’ (when the person is able to judge that their belief is apt) Harry lacks reflective knowldge as he is not in a position to recognise his belief is apt because he isnt aware of all the other fake barns.

Question 17

Virtue Epistemology

Criticisms

Answer 17

Nobody can be good at everything - you could be virtuous and wise at philosophy but not carpentry