PHI 101 - Epistemology Exam Study Set
Questions And Correct Answers.
Epistemology - Answer - branch or subdivision of philosophy which is dedicated to the study of
knowledge, its attainment, and its limitations.
- Descartes' 'project'
Dogmatism - Answer Q: "Can we have knowledge?"
A: "Yes, we CAN have knowledge."
Types:
1) Radical _______
2) Mitigated _______
Radical Dogmatism - Answer "Anyone can know everything."
Mitigated Dogmatism - Answer "Some people have some knowledge."
Scepticism - Answer Q: "Can we have knowledge?"
A: "No, we cannot have knowledge."
Types:
1) Radical _____
2) Mitigated _____
Radical Skepticism - Answer "No one can know anything."
This position maintains that knowledge is, in principle, impossible to attain. That is, it is
impossible to be certain that our beliefs meet the criterion of truth. Thus we have no
knowledge.
Mitigated Skepticism - Answer "No one does know anything."
Relativism - Answer "What is true is 'true' for you."
- The Problem with _______: it leads to inconsistencies and contradictions or a denial of truth
, Absolute Relativism - Answer "Truth is relative to each individual."
Mitigated Relativism - Answer "Truth is relative to the culture in which you are raised."
Rationalism - Answer Q: "How do we obtain knowledge?"
A: "through reason alone"
Empiricism - Answer Q: "How do we obtain knowledge?"
A: "through the senses alone"
Knowledge - Answer a. beliefs
b. true
c. justified
Justification - Answer (how we know our beliefs correspond with reality) types:
1. Internalism
2. Externalism
Internalism - Answer (justification rests upon a belief's relation to other beliefs) types:
1. Foundationalism
2. Coherentism
Foundationalism - Answer "Some beliefs are terminal or self-justifying, all others are derived
from them."
Coherentism - Answer "All beliefs are justified by their relations to all your other beliefs; no
terminal beliefs."
Externalism - Answer "Justification rests upon the way a belief is formed; the right process of
belief formation gives justification (Cognitive Science - 'right' brain states)
Questions And Correct Answers.
Epistemology - Answer - branch or subdivision of philosophy which is dedicated to the study of
knowledge, its attainment, and its limitations.
- Descartes' 'project'
Dogmatism - Answer Q: "Can we have knowledge?"
A: "Yes, we CAN have knowledge."
Types:
1) Radical _______
2) Mitigated _______
Radical Dogmatism - Answer "Anyone can know everything."
Mitigated Dogmatism - Answer "Some people have some knowledge."
Scepticism - Answer Q: "Can we have knowledge?"
A: "No, we cannot have knowledge."
Types:
1) Radical _____
2) Mitigated _____
Radical Skepticism - Answer "No one can know anything."
This position maintains that knowledge is, in principle, impossible to attain. That is, it is
impossible to be certain that our beliefs meet the criterion of truth. Thus we have no
knowledge.
Mitigated Skepticism - Answer "No one does know anything."
Relativism - Answer "What is true is 'true' for you."
- The Problem with _______: it leads to inconsistencies and contradictions or a denial of truth
, Absolute Relativism - Answer "Truth is relative to each individual."
Mitigated Relativism - Answer "Truth is relative to the culture in which you are raised."
Rationalism - Answer Q: "How do we obtain knowledge?"
A: "through reason alone"
Empiricism - Answer Q: "How do we obtain knowledge?"
A: "through the senses alone"
Knowledge - Answer a. beliefs
b. true
c. justified
Justification - Answer (how we know our beliefs correspond with reality) types:
1. Internalism
2. Externalism
Internalism - Answer (justification rests upon a belief's relation to other beliefs) types:
1. Foundationalism
2. Coherentism
Foundationalism - Answer "Some beliefs are terminal or self-justifying, all others are derived
from them."
Coherentism - Answer "All beliefs are justified by their relations to all your other beliefs; no
terminal beliefs."
Externalism - Answer "Justification rests upon the way a belief is formed; the right process of
belief formation gives justification (Cognitive Science - 'right' brain states)
