Epistomology 1

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The study of the meaning and justification of human knowledge, including the sources, extent
and limits of human knowledge.

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Epistemology =df

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Intuitive Knowledge/Acquaintance:
Lola knows Peter.
Practical Knowledge:
Lola knows how to run.
Descriptive Knowledge:
Lola knows that she is running.

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Different kinds of knowledge:

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If we do not answer the skeptic, we know nothing.

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Descartes

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The view that epistemology is more fundamental than any other field of inquiry; without
epistemology all other fields are not justified in their claims to knowledge.

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Epistemological Turn =df

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Find the strongest possible arguments for radical skepticism.
Reject all beliefs that are dubitable (can be doubted).

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Descartes’ Method of Doubt

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(can be doubted)

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dubitable

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(is doubted

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dubious

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(cannot be doubted

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indubitable

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I can only know that I exist and what I am thinking, nothing else.

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Epistemological Solipsism =df

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Only I and my thoughts exist.

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Metaphysical Solipsism =df

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Mathematical knowledge.
Knowledge of your own existence.

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Rational knowledge cannot be refuted by experience.

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a proposition whose negation is not 
possible; its negation entails a contradiction; also: Truths of Reason
2 = 2

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Necessary proposition =df

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a proposition whose negation is possible; 
its negation does not entail a contradiction; also Truths of Fact.
There are two apples in this room.

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Contingent proposition =df

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 contains only axioms, definitions, provable theorems and 
deductively valid arguments or inferences.

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A proof

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An argument is deductively valid if and only if it is necessary that if all 
the premises are true, the conclusion is true; it is not possible that all  
the premises are true and the conclusion is false.

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Deductively Valid Argument

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R1) All human knowledge requires absolute certainty.
R2) All human knowledge depends on reason.
R3) Some human knowledge about matters of fact is a priori.
R4) Some human knowledge about matters of fact is necessary.

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Rationalism:

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All human knowledge depends on  sense experience.

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Empiricism

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All meaningful human ideas can be resolved into sense impressions.

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Hume’s ‘Microscope’:

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We Cannot Justify Objective Necessity

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Hume

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 A proposition that is true in virtue of meaning and logic alone; not true 
in virtue of matters of fact, that is, the way the world is apar t from our meanings.

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Analytic proposition =df

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 A proposition that is true in vir tue of matters of fact ­­ the way the 
world is; not true in virtue of meaning and logic alone.

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Synthetic proposition =df

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Synthetic propositions can only be known 

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a posteriori.

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Analytic propositions can be known 

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a priori.

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A priori knowledge is about meanings, not 

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matters of fact.

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Matters of fact are known only

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a posteriori.`

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Knowledge about matters of fact rests on experience. does not require absolute certainty;  probabilities are good enough

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Empiricist Insights

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We can't answer the skeptic.  We simply make assumptions out of custom and habit, and there 
is no rational justification for those habitual assumptions.

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David Hume:

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We don't have to answer the skeptic.  Skepticism is not practical.  If something works, who 
cares if it is really true.

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Pragmatism (William James):

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Human beings are justified in using certain ideas because they are necessary conditions for 
any possible experience

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Immanuel Kant