Constructivist epistemology

It’s no question that any good scientific theory must adequately explain and predict an observation, however, there is much controversy regarding the attitudes taken towards these theories (DeWitt 71). There are two types of people in the world: realists and instrumentalists, or anti-realists. Realits believe that in order for a theory to be acceptable, it must also “reflect the way things really are,” which is clearly the intuitive way to go (DeWitt 73). The sole aim for realists is to give a…

Introduction: In this paper, I will argue that are like the prisoners in Plato's Allegory of The Cave. To make this argument, I will first out the Allegory of The Cave. Second, I will argue that we are like the prisoners about the fact that what we see is selected for us, much like the people in Plato's trench picking which figurines they will hold up. Third I will entertain the strongest possible counter-argument which is that we are not like the prisoners because we can choose what we watch.…

Humans are hardwired to form opinions and defend beliefs even if they might not be true. The article, Why Facts Don’t Change Our Minds by Elizabeth Kolbert argues that humans are miss-led by false information. The rush humans feel when they win an argument supporting their beliefs is a feeling unreplicated by anything else, even if they argue with incorrect information. The article also states that humans tend to make quick judgements without fully understanding a situation. Wide media usage,…

Fichte: streamlined by Henrich There are numerous speculations as to the origins of the self. However, what was once a common perception has been challenged and built upon from the work of philosophers. His observations distance themselves from many others, while omitting important facets as well. “Simplified” by Henrich, the procedure of Fichte’s thought can still be harrowing to follow, although it allows for more streamlined understanding. This is both a benchmark in history and a valid form…

In Language, Truth and Logic by Alfred Jules Ayer, Ayer positions himself with the proposition that in order for a person to make a meaningful claim about the world, the claim must pass the criterion of verifiability. The role of the criterion of verifiability is to test the genuineness of a statement of facts. (Ayer 35)” Ayer’s role for the criterion of verifiability is to test if a person’s proposition is or is not a meaningful claim about the world. The criterion of verifiability is made up…

Nagel brings up fascinating questions in his book, “What does it all mean?” Do we live in the real world? Is the real world only as real as we perceive it to be? What is the meaning of life? First, we will explore our perceptions of the ‘real’ world and try to answer if that world is truly there or in our minds. Secondly, let’s say the world is real and everyone else in it, when we think about the question of the mind and the brain; did we have that thought in our brain? Or was it in our souls?…

The problem of the criterion is one of the key issues in epistemology. In The Problem of the Criterion, R.M. Chisholm successfully argues that through the particularist method we can sort the truth from the fallacies. Chisholm manages this by laying out a procedure to sort true beliefs from false beliefs and setting fair conditions on the particularist’s method. The problem of the criterion, as laid out by Chisholm is “the vicious circle” (1982, p. 61) or descending into an infinite regress. To…

In this essay, I will be writing about Bertrand Russell’s “The Value of Philosophy” and Plato’s The Apology. These readings were written by two very important and valued philosophers who made a huge impact on the philosophical community throughout time. “The Value of Philosophy” is Russell’s point of view when it comes to philosophy. The Apology is Plato’s version of the trial of Socrates, so the reading is about what Socrates believed was philosophy. This essay will discuss the views,…

Plato’s dialogue “Crito” starts off with Socrates being visited in his jail cell by a long time friend, Crito. Socrates is in jail because he was sentenced to death for a few reasons. One include engaging in inquiries into things beneath the Earth and in the heavens, and of making the weaker argument appear stronger and teaching it to others. They were accusing him of being sophist, in other words, a teacher of the higher. For these charges he was sentenced to death, but had a chance to rebuttal…

The Argument for the Immortality of the Soul When Socrates and Meno are halted in their argument by a paradox, Socrates proposes a new idea that will solve the paradox and continue their conversation. He states that the soul is immortal and it has learned everything in past lives. Thus, what men call learning is actually a process of recollection. I will first be giving context as to how this idea came into the dialogue with Meno. Next, I will explain how he puts the same idea forward in Phaedo…