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Epistemology

Epistemology. Ultimate Questions about…. How do we know what exists?. Can we be certain of anything?. How can we find out what is real?. EXTEND. How does this link to the meaning of the word ‘philosophy/philosopher’? How does this link to ontology? . Empiricism.

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Epistemology

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  1. Epistemology

  2. Ultimate Questions about… How do we know what exists? Can we be certain of anything? How can we find out what is real? EXTEND How does this link to the meaning of the word ‘philosophy/philosopher’? How does this link to ontology?

  3. Empiricism

  4. How might a Scientist find out the truth?

  5. Philosophers who believe that we can tell what is true through our sense experience are called Empiricists. see hear smell Knowledge gained through sense experience is called a posteriori orempiricalknowledge. taste touch

  6. TEST YOURSELF How might an empiricist test the claim,‘Mrs Robinson Exists’? Empiricists call evidence gained through the senses ‘empirical evidence’.

  7. Strengths • Common sense EXTEND Research Descartes’ doubts, found in his Meditations

  8. Weaknesses • Our senses may not be very reliable…

  9. Everything we sense could be an illusion – our senses could be deceived… Neo accepted his world of sense experience his whole life, until one day, he began to wonder whether his senses were really telling him what is true… WARNING: DO NOT REFER TO FILMS IN YOUR ESSAYS or EXAM ANSWERS! EXTEND Watch the full film and link to Empiricism, Materialism and Dualism. Research ideas about ‘brain in a vat’ theories and Descartes’ idea of a malicious, deceiving demon.

  10. If our senses can be deceived, can we be sure thatanythingin the empirical world is real?! Could it all be a dream? Could it all be a big set up? ...Could it all be the matrix? TRUMAN SHOW THE MATRIX

  11. Rationalism

  12. TEST YOURSELF Is it an a posteriori argument? Spock puts forward an argument to persuade Sheldon of the truth that he should play with his toy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty2t0u12ORs

  13. Spock uses a logical argument: • The purpose of a toy is to be played with. • The transporter is a toy. Therefore; • The transporter should be played with if it is to fulfill it’s purpose.

  14. Can you complete the following logical argument? TEST YOURSELF • Socrates is a man • All men are mortal Therefore; • _______________

  15. Can you create your own example of a logical argument? TEST YOURSELF • Premise One • Premise Two Therefore; • Conclusion

  16. Philosophers who believe that we can tell what is true through logical argument or reason are called Rationalists. If 2+2 =4, Then, 4/2 = 2 Knowledge gained through using our reason is called a priori knowledge.

  17. As a rationalist, which of the following school subjects do you think Plato might prefer? TEST YOURSELF Science Mathematics EXTEND What might his rationalism mean for his ontology – can you link his rationalism to his dualism?

  18. Strengths • There are lots of things we can know without having to experience them. You don’t even need to leave your armchair!

  19. For example: • James Middleton is unmarried. • A Presdales student is not a non-Presdales student. TEST YOURSELF Create your own example. EXTEND Research the laws of logic e.g. law of contradiction. Look up the terms ‘valid’ and ‘sound’ with reference to philosophical arguments.

  20. We can even know things about the future! One year from now… twoPresdales students and two more Presdales students will be fourPresdales students!

  21. Weaknesses • Empiricism can’t be criticisedon the basis that our senses deceives us, as it’s not the senses themselves, but the judgments we make based on that knowledge that are misleading. TEST YOURSELF Give your own example. EXTEND Can you think of a counter-argument?

  22. Charlie, the bachelor, is unmarried! • Rationalism doesn’t provide us with any new information. No kidding. EXTEND Why would this be a problem for philosophers like Plato? Look up the meaning of the word ‘tautology’ – how might this idea relate to this criticism?

  23. The Rationalist standard for knowledge is too high or too strict. It calls for absolute certainty, meaning we can claim to know very little. EXTEND Evaluate all your basic knowledge claims and get rid of any that rely on empirical evidence – what are you actually left with? Can you even verify your own existence? Research Descartes’ rationalist conclusion ‘I think, therefore I am’ and the criticisms of this.

  24. Aristotle: Plato focuses too much on knowledge from reason and not enough about knowledge from experience. • Empiricist criticism Hume: Plato undermines the importance of the knowledge we gain from sense experience.

  25. knowledge Word Bingo empiricist reason sense experience logic Rationalism rationalist a posteriori Empiricism a priori deceived

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