Unit 3 - EPISTEMOLOGY

Question 1

What is Epistemology?

Answer 1

The theory of knowledge and how we obtain/justify it.

Question 2

What was Rene Descartes’s opinion on epistemology?

Answer 2

• Descartes was a skeptic, meaning he questioned the reliability of our knowledge.
• He questioned the existence of everything including his own.

Question 3

What is the tripartite analysis of knowledge?

Answer 3

S believes p;
P is true;
S is justified in believing p.,

Question 4

What is the loophole question for justified true beliefs?

Answer 4

Farmers field cow question.

Question 5

What is Procedural knowledge?

Answer 5

The knowledge found in the exercise of a task.
Ex) Riding a bike, swimming.

Question 6

What is Acquaintance knowledge?

Answer 6

Knowledge of a general quality
Ex) Colour, smell, shape

Question 7

What is Descriptive knowledge?

Answer 7

Knowledge expressed in declarative sentences.
Not experienced
Ex) Historical facts

Question 8

What is Propositional knowledge?

Answer 8

Knowledge of (true) statements.
There is an immediate known truth.
Involves many subject matters
Ex) 3-1 = 2, Whales are mammals

Question 9

What is internalism?

Answer 9

• Beliefs and their formations are mental processes
• Justification is dependent on internal factors
• Mental states justify beliefs

Question 10

What is externalism?

Answer 10

• Some external factor must justify a belief
  Verificationism & reliabilism

Question 11

What is Rationalism?

Answer 11

• Belief that reason without help from sense perception can lead to knowledge of the world.
• This is a priori knowledge
  Mathematicians do not observe to justify theorems.