2020-11-07

phil-1101

Analyses of knowledge
Guiding questions
- According to our textbook authors, what are the three necessary conditions for knowledge?
  - Why is justification required for knowledge?
  - Why isn't true belief enough for knowledge?
- What is the difference between foundationalism and coherentism?
  - Which seems more plausible and why?
- What is the difference between internalism and externalism?
- What is reliabilism and why does it count as an externalist theory?
- Why does Edmund Gettier think the justified true belief account of knowledge is incorrect?
  - How are his examples supposed to provide counterexamples to this account?
- Do you think Edmund Gettier is right?
  - Why or why not?
Necessary and sufficient conditions
- Necessary condition (Necessity)
  - Condition for something, F, is a condition that must be met in order for F to be present
- Sufficient condition (Sufficiency)
  - Condition for something, F, is a condition that, if met, guarantees that F is present
- Complete set of necessary conditions together constitute a sufficient condition for F
- Entire set --> individually necessary and jointly sufficient
  - INJS
  - Often used to analyze important philosophical concepts
    - Virtue, knowledge, etc.
Plato defined knowledge as justified true belief
Edmund Gettier objected to the standard model
- Gettier problem
Analyzing justification
- Infinite regress]] problem
  - Majority of our beliefs depend on other beliefs for their justification
  - This ends up being a vicious infinite regress
  - Solutions:
    - Argued against with foundationalism
      - Justification does not depend on other beliefs
    - Coherentism
      - Like a web connecting together
Foundationalism and coherentism are interpreted as internalist (interalism)