admin40 Possible Questions and Answers on Epistemology
Section 1: Basic Concepts
1* What is epistemology?
- Epistemology is the study of knowledge, examining its nature, origin, and limitations.
2* What are the two main types of knowledge?
- Operational (know-how) and factual/propositional (know-that).
3* What is propositional knowledge?
- Knowledge expressed in declarative statements (e.g., “The sky is blue”).
4* What is the difference between a priori and a posteriori knowledge?
- A priori is independent of experience (e.g., math), while a posteriori relies on experience (e.g., “The rose is red”).
5* What is the “Justified True Belief” (JTB) definition of knowledge?
- Knowledge requires a belief that is both true and justified.
Section 2: Justification and Gettier Problem
6* What are the three components of JTB?
- Truth, belief, and justification.
7* What is the Gettier problem?
- Cases where justified true belief does not constitute knowledge (e.g., a stopped clock showing the correct time).
8* How does foundationalism respond to infinite regress in justification?
- It posits basic, self-evident beliefs (e.g., Descartes’ “I think, therefore I am”).
9* What is infallibilism?
- The view that justification must guarantee truth to avoid Gettier cases.
10* What is coherentism?
- Justification comes from a belief’s coherence within a system, not foundational truths.
Section 3: Theories of Justification
11* What is evidentialism?
- The view that beliefs must be supported by evidence.
12* How does factual correspondence justify beliefs?
- By matching beliefs to observable facts (e.g., “The soup is sweet” if it tastes sweet).
13* What is a critique of logical coherence theory?
- Two coherent but contradictory systems can exist (e.g., competing scientific theories).
14* What is pragmatism’s criterion for truth?
- A belief is true if it is useful or works in practice.
15* How does reliabilism differ from evidentialism?
- It focuses on the reliability of cognitive processes (e.g., perception, memory) rather than direct evidence.
Section 4: Sources of Knowledge
16* List five sources of knowledge.
- Perception, memory, reason, intuition, testimony.
17* How does empiricism explain knowledge acquisition?
- All knowledge comes from sensory experience (Locke’s tabula rasa).
18* What is rationalism’s view on knowledge?
- Reason, not just senses, is key to knowledge (e.g., Kant’s innate mental categories).
19* What is intuitionism?
- Knowledge is grasped directly, beyond reason or experience.
20* How does constructivism define knowledge?
- Knowledge is socially constructed, not purely objective.
Section 5: Positivism and Skepticism
21* What is positivism?
- Only empirical/scientific knowledge is valid.
22* What did logical positivists reject?
- Metaphysics and theology as “meaningless” (non-verifiable).
23* What is the verifiability criterion?
- A statement is meaningful only if empirically verifiable or a logical tautology.
24* What is skepticism’s main argument?
- Human knowledge lacks certainty due to fallible senses and reasoning.
25* How did Hume challenge induction?
- Past observations don’t guarantee future events (no proof nature is uniform).
Section 6: Advanced Questions
26* Why is Descartes’ cogito foundational?
- It’s indubitable (“I think” proves existence).
27* How does Kant reconcile empiricism and rationalism?
- Sensory data is structured by innate mental categories (e.g., space, time).
28* What is the “brain in a vat” scenario?
- A skeptical thought experiment questioning if our perceptions are real.
29* How does testimony function as a knowledge source?
- Relies on trust in others’ reports (e.g., learning history from books).
30* Why is memory fallible?
- Memories can be distorted or false (e.g., eyewitness errors).
Section 7: Critical Analysis
31* Is JTB sufficient for knowledge?
- No, due to Gettier cases; additional conditions (e.g., reliability) may be needed.
32* Can pragmatism justify false but useful beliefs?
- Yes (e.g., propaganda), which critics argue confuses utility with truth.
33* Does coherentism avoid infinite regress?
- No, as coherence itself requires justification.
34* Is skepticism self-defeating?
- Yes, if it claims “no knowledge is certain,” including its own claim.
35* Why is perception unreliable?
- Illusions (e.g., mirages) show senses can deceive.
Section 8: Application Questions
36* Give an example of a Gettier case.
- A farmer sees a sheep-shaped rock and believes “There’s a sheep”—unknowingly, a real sheep is hidden behind it.
37* How would a rationalist explain math knowledge?
- Math truths (e.g., 2+2=4) are known through reason, not observation.
38* How does science use empiricism?
- Hypotheses are tested via observation/experimentation.
39* Why is intuition important in ethics?
- Some moral truths (e.g., “Torture is wrong”) are felt, not proven.
40* How does constructivism apply to cultural knowledge?
- Truths vary by culture (e.g., time perception in Western vs. Indigenous societies).
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