Course Philosophy/Knowledge
Book: Knowledge: A very short introduction
Tradition def 2 : if A is the cause of B, then if A had not occurred, B would not have
occurred. ( necessitation view )
III. Hume’s 1sr theory on causation
IV. In Hume’s second theory, the counterfactual dependence theory ( CDT) cannot identify
the true cause.
1. The def of cause according to the CDT :
A is the cause of B if A had not occurred, B would not have occurred
2. How do we prove that?
Randomized controlled trial ( 2 seperate grp ) controlled and nothing ) in medicine
Advil / Placebo
3. One of Hume's objections to this method: ( Mike took one pill of advil and pain gone
advil is the cause of the pain gone ) general result that advil use/ but we don’t know if
advil is really the cause of the pain removal , we don’t know
Causation is a connection between 2 individual events, not a general tendency
We want to know whether this pill of Advil is the cause of Mike's headache relief, not
whether Advil tends to cure headache.
Tradition def 2: If A is the cause of B Then if A had not occurred , B would not have
occurred .
III. Hume’s theory on causation:
The power view of causation is wrong. The so-called causal connections are just
repeated patterns
Causation is the cause of cause : we don’t know what's causing the cells body thing
, Metaphysics
Chapter 1 What is a table ? How do we know anything about a table ?
I. Individual things are called particulars
A table is a particular with properties ( color, shape , size… )
Particular meaning: an individual item, as contrasted with a universal quality
I can only know a particular by knowing it’s properties
Is a table ( particular ) just the collection of all its properties ?
II. Yes
The bundle theory: particulars can only be accounted for in terms of properties.
if you change the table color our common sense well say that it's the same table but the
bundle does not that's because one particular change
Problem 1: if so, a particular cannot survive changes.
( surgery , you're not the same body) absurd
Table
cat ( moving so change shape so the cat has many bundles ) nonsense
Problem 2: The twin problem ( two same tables then they are one and same table, one bundle
) same properties so they are the same according to bundle theory
1. No
The substratum view: ( basis to grow something)
The substratum (essence of something )( what makes a table a table ) of a table ( particular) is
something underlying all properties.
, Diamond necklace: the metal that keep and protect diamond is the substratum because it can
endure the change
Tableness ( essence of table, the substratum of table )
Personal info: Table we can only know its properties , don't know about substratum
Table= properties + substratum
Prob: the substratum is invisible, and imperceptible,
What would happen if all its qualities were removed?)
GHOST TABLE
Discard agree with substratum theory
Chapter 2 Metaphysics
The theories of universals
1. The difference between a particular and a Property?
- A table / the color yellow
- A property is Universal
II. 2 types of things that are wholly present in all of its instances ( colors, apples, oranges
football they are instances of shape circularity)
1. Properties
2. Relations
Example: Be taller than - Mike is taller than Peter instance of the relationship
Can universals ( properties, relations ) exist independently from particulars?
III. If all instances of a property or relation were destroyed, will it still exist?
Plato’s answer: Yes. They exist in heavenly, transcendent world
Book: Knowledge: A very short introduction
Tradition def 2 : if A is the cause of B, then if A had not occurred, B would not have
occurred. ( necessitation view )
III. Hume’s 1sr theory on causation
IV. In Hume’s second theory, the counterfactual dependence theory ( CDT) cannot identify
the true cause.
1. The def of cause according to the CDT :
A is the cause of B if A had not occurred, B would not have occurred
2. How do we prove that?
Randomized controlled trial ( 2 seperate grp ) controlled and nothing ) in medicine
Advil / Placebo
3. One of Hume's objections to this method: ( Mike took one pill of advil and pain gone
advil is the cause of the pain gone ) general result that advil use/ but we don’t know if
advil is really the cause of the pain removal , we don’t know
Causation is a connection between 2 individual events, not a general tendency
We want to know whether this pill of Advil is the cause of Mike's headache relief, not
whether Advil tends to cure headache.
Tradition def 2: If A is the cause of B Then if A had not occurred , B would not have
occurred .
III. Hume’s theory on causation:
The power view of causation is wrong. The so-called causal connections are just
repeated patterns
Causation is the cause of cause : we don’t know what's causing the cells body thing
, Metaphysics
Chapter 1 What is a table ? How do we know anything about a table ?
I. Individual things are called particulars
A table is a particular with properties ( color, shape , size… )
Particular meaning: an individual item, as contrasted with a universal quality
I can only know a particular by knowing it’s properties
Is a table ( particular ) just the collection of all its properties ?
II. Yes
The bundle theory: particulars can only be accounted for in terms of properties.
if you change the table color our common sense well say that it's the same table but the
bundle does not that's because one particular change
Problem 1: if so, a particular cannot survive changes.
( surgery , you're not the same body) absurd
Table
cat ( moving so change shape so the cat has many bundles ) nonsense
Problem 2: The twin problem ( two same tables then they are one and same table, one bundle
) same properties so they are the same according to bundle theory
1. No
The substratum view: ( basis to grow something)
The substratum (essence of something )( what makes a table a table ) of a table ( particular) is
something underlying all properties.
, Diamond necklace: the metal that keep and protect diamond is the substratum because it can
endure the change
Tableness ( essence of table, the substratum of table )
Personal info: Table we can only know its properties , don't know about substratum
Table= properties + substratum
Prob: the substratum is invisible, and imperceptible,
What would happen if all its qualities were removed?)
GHOST TABLE
Discard agree with substratum theory
Chapter 2 Metaphysics
The theories of universals
1. The difference between a particular and a Property?
- A table / the color yellow
- A property is Universal
II. 2 types of things that are wholly present in all of its instances ( colors, apples, oranges
football they are instances of shape circularity)
1. Properties
2. Relations
Example: Be taller than - Mike is taller than Peter instance of the relationship
Can universals ( properties, relations ) exist independently from particulars?
III. If all instances of a property or relation were destroyed, will it still exist?
Plato’s answer: Yes. They exist in heavenly, transcendent world
