Epistemology ► Area of Philosophy that deals with questions concerning knowledge ► Philosophy of Knowledge

Epistemology ► ► Is knowledge possible? ► ► If so, how do we obtain it? ► ► What does this knowledge say about the world?

Epistemology Who cares?

Epistemology ► Is it possible to predict the future?

Allegory of the Cave

What is knowledge? ► I believe that John passed the test ► John did not pass the test ► I have no opinion regarding whether John passed the test ► John passed the test ► The coin flip came up heads so I believe that John passed the test ► John passed the test

What is knowledge? ► I looked at Johns test and his score was 90% ► I have no reason to believe that this score is inaccurate ► Based on these considerations I believe that John passed the test ► John passed the test ► True ► Justified ► Belief

Skepticism ► The claim that we do not have knowledge

Skepticism ► Senses can be deceived ► Universal Belief falsifiers: Strategies used by skeptics to attack knowledge claims by showing that there are states of affairs that would prevent us from distinguishing true beliefs from false ones

Skepticism ► General skeptical argument We can find reasons for doubting any one of our beliefs We can find reasons for doubting any one of our beliefs It follows that we can doubt all of our beliefs It follows that we can doubt all of our beliefs If we can doubt all of our beliefs then we cannot be certain of any of them If we can doubt all of our beliefs then we cannot be certain of any of them If we do not have certainty about any of our beliefs then we do not have knowledge If we do not have certainty about any of our beliefs then we do not have knowledge Therefore, we do not have knowledge Therefore, we do not have knowledge

Skepticism ► Rene Descartes ► Wanted to find the same type of certainty in philosophy as is mathematics ► Methodological skepticism ► Cogito Ergo Sum ( I think Therefore I am)

Empiricism ► Claim that sense experience is the primary source of our knowledge about the world

Rationalism ► Claim that reason or the intellect is the primary source of our knowledge about reality

Constructivism (Kantian Epistemology) ► Claim that knowledge is neither already in the mind nor passively received from the experience but that the mind constructs knowledge out of the materials of experience

Constructivism (Kantian Epistemology)

Objectivism ► The claim that there is one set of universal truths or facts about the world and that these truths are independent of us

Epistemological Relativism ► There is no universal, objective knowledge of reality because all knowledge is either relative to the individual or his or her culture

Epistemological Relativism Subjectivism -- The claim that beliefs are relative each person’s individual perspective Cultural Relativism -- The claim that beliefs are relative to a particular culture

Objectivism ► The claim that there is one set of universal truths or facts about the world and that these truths are independent of us

What is the Truth? ► Correspondence theory of truth ► 1. Reality has a determinant objective character ► 2. A statement is true or false to the degree that it corresponds to or represents the objective features of reality ► Jack is six feet tall

What is the Truth? ► Perspectivism: ► Theory that there cannot be any uninterpreted facts or truths about because everything that we encounter is seen from one perspective or another

Perspectivism

Pragmatism William James William James John Dewey

Pragmatism ► Judges truth of our beliefs by how successfully they guide our actions

Pragmatism ► Intrumentalism: Ideas and beliefs are instruments for dealing with the situations we face in life ► Fallibilism: All knowledge is tentative and subject to revision

Pragmatism

Pragmatism

Pragmatism ► is true ► The Pythagorean Theorem is true ► ► Democracy is a better form of government than Communism ► ► Killing an innocent person is wrong ► ► College is a worthwhile experience