What Would Convince You?

Question 1

Define Epistemology

Answer 1

Epistemology is the question of what to, or not to, believe.

Question 2

Define Mysticism

Answer 2

The belief that there is an ultimate reality or spiritual truth. Mysticism appeals directly to personal experience.

Question 3

Define Theism

Answer 3

The belief that there is a god or gods. People get answers on faith alone.

Question 4

Define Rationalism

Answer 4

The belief that knowledge is already known but has to be unlocked.

Question 5

Define Hermenutics

Answer 5

The act of interpreting texts.

Question 6

Define Skepticism

Answer 6

Skepticism is the doubt of the truth or validity of something.

Question 7

Define Empiricism

Answer 7

The idea that knowledge comes out of sensory observation. Science stems from empiricism. Rose up in 17-18th century by mainly David Hume.

Question 8

What are the methods of coming to knowledge? (6)

Answer 8

Mysticism, Theism, Rationalism, Hermenutics, Skepticism and Empiricism.

Question 9

What is required of science now? (4)

Answer 9

Science has to be: publicly observable, repeatable, an explanation to theories and published

Question 10

What does mysticism stem from? (3)

Answer 10

Mysticism comes from direct experience, intuition and instinct.

Question 11

What does theism stem from? (3)

Answer 11

The voice of God, visions and prayer

Question 12

What is a skeptic?

Answer 12

A person who is careful about what they believe

Question 13

What was Rene Descartes (1637) radical doubt question?

Answer 13

Descartes asked: “what proof do I have of the world, or bodies or even my own mind really exist?”

Question 14

What is an important difference between mysticism and empiricism?

Answer 14

Mysticism values subjective experience while empiricism only values experience that can be verified by others.

Question 15

What are the conditions that are necessary and sufficient for something to be considered traditional knowledge? (Stanford Encyclopedia)

Answer 15

Knowledge requires truth, belief and justification.

Question 16

What is the key principal of Plato’s rationalist view of knowledge?

Answer 16

Knowledge is present at birth, and can be found through logic and reasoning.

Question 17

What is the main advantage of mysticism as a pathway to knowledge?

Answer 17

Mysticism draws on personal experience, so knowledge may feel more personally satisfying.

Question 18

What is a major difference between the religious and empirical pathway to knowledge?

Answer 18

Empiricists rely on direct sensory experience where the religious put value on the word of an authority

Question 19

What is the difference between Plato’s rationalist approach and Aristotle’s empirical approach?

Answer 19

Aristotle argued that experience of real objects and events is necessary for building valid knowledge. Plato argued that direct experience from our senses can be misleading and knowledge should be derived from logic and reasoning.

Question 20

Who founded empiricism?

Answer 20

Aristotle