Epistemology
concerned with the study of knowledge.
Metaphysics
the study of ultimate reality. (interested in determining whats really
... [Show More] real)
Skepticism
claim we can know nothing
Absolute Skepticism
knowledge is absolute certainty (genuine knowledge not belief or opinion)
Absolute Certainty
only can be absolutely certain of that which is logically impossible. You cannot of that which is logically possible it can't be certain it's not real.
Pyrrho
1. If knowledge was possible then it would have to derive from either reason or sense perception.
2. neither reason nor sense perception can give knowledge, therefore knowledge isn't possible
Cratylus
1. in order to know something it must never change
2. Everything changes therefore knowledge isn't possible
Rationalism
- believe knowledge comes from reason
- When rationalism insist that reason gives knowledge, they're saying senses cannot give knowledge.
Plato
- Plato & Cratylus agree whatever is known must never change
Two-World Theory
our world is a reflection of another world, knowledge comes from the other world.
Knowledge world
- Intelligible
- Universals
-Eternal
- Changeless
- Incorruptible
Beliefs world
- Sensible (can be touched, seen, smelt, heard, etc.)
- Changeable
- Particulars (ex. phone, people, tv's, any items, etc.)
- temporal, corruptible
Universal
A property that can be predicated (shared) by many particulars. What makes a particular the type of particular it is and universals. Universals are essences.
- Universals exist independently from and prior to particulars. They are more real than particulars because they don't change.
Rationalism (Plato)
- The knowledge of the universals are innate / within
- Human beings are not their bodies, our bodies are inferior to our souls. Human beings are minds and souls.
- Plato thinks at one time our bodies co-existed with our souls. Our souls fell from the higher state into our bodies, we then largely forgot what we've previously known.
Innate
Within
Rene Descartes (Modern Rationalist)
- The father of modern philosophy / rationalism
- Agreed with skeptic that genuine knowledge came from absolute certainty
- Set out to show knowledge is attainable. Wanted to erect a whole new system of knowledge. Used Skepticism to disprove it.
- Discovers the senses are deceptive. Concludes senses can't give absolute certainty.
- Believes theres a demon which makes him feel absolutely certain, even if he is wrong.
- Rene said demon couldn't make him doubt his existence, b/c in order to doubt it you have to exist
Mental Substance, Mind
- can't doubt his mental existence
- needed to overcome the threat of the demon by proving the existence of god.
Argument for gods existence
- has idea of god in his mind. Idea of the greatest being.
- knows reason lays down 2 principles
1. something can't come from nothing
2. an effect can't be greater than its cause
- takes idea of god and 2 principles and tried to show how his idea of god couldn't have came from nothing.
- the idea of god is the greatest of ideas. So it is the greatest of effects, the idea of an infinite being. If the idea of god is the greatest of ideas it can only come from god himself.
Empiricism
Knowledge comes from experience
John Locke (father of empiricism)
* (Empiricism essentially opposite of rationalism)
- You don't just know things, you learn them.
- The mind is Tabula Rasa (a blank slate)
What we know according to John Locke
- Ideas
- Ideas of sensation (come from 5 senses: ex. loud, soft, sweet, art)
- Ideas of reflection: what we get by experiencing our minds
All knowledge consists of knowledge from these 2 categories
1.) Primary - Size, shape, solidity, mass, motion, rest, extension
- Measurable by quantifiable qualities
- they are objective
- material not matter
2.) Secondary - Color, sound, scent, texture, taste
- They are subjective
- They are percieved
David Hume (skeptic & empiricist)
- What we know are our perceptions
2 Kinds of perceptions
1.) Impressions
2.) Ideas
- Can't have an idea w/0 an impression
* There is virtually nothing we can know
* You also can't know if theres anything physical
* Because you can't have an impression of the mind you can't have an idea of it so essentially you can't know if you have a mind.
- 3 things we can't know
1.) God
2.) Material Substance
3.) Mental Substance [Show Less]