Question 1

__________ was not a foundationalist.

Accepted Answer

A)  Plato. 
B)  Aristotle. 
C)  Descartes. 
D)  John Locke. 
A)  Plato. 
B)  Aristotle. 
C)  Descartes. 
D)  John Locke. A

Question 2

Explain knowledge as acquaintance, knowledge how, and propositional knowledge. Include examples of each.

Accepted Answer

Knowledge can be understood in different ways, including as acquaintance, knowledge how, and propositional knowledge.

Acquaintance knowledge refers to knowledge gained through direct experience or interaction with something or someone. For example, if someone has acquaintance knowledge of a particular city, it means they have visited the city and have firsthand experience of its streets, landmarks, and culture.

Knowledge how, on the other hand, refers to practical knowledge or skills that enable a person to perform a specific task or activity. For instance, someone may have knowledge how to ride a bike, swim, or play a musical instrument. This type of knowledge is often gained through practice and hands-on experience.

Propositional knowledge, also known as factual knowledge, is knowledge that can be expressed in the form of propositions or statements. It involves knowing that something is the case or understanding the truth of a particular claim. For example, knowing that the Earth revolves around the sun, or that Paris is the capital of France, are examples of propositional knowledge.

In summary, acquaintance knowledge is based on direct experience, knowledge how is practical and skill-based, and propositional knowledge involves understanding facts or truths. Each type of knowledge plays a crucial role in our understanding of the world and our ability to navigate it effectively.

Question 3

Discuss the brain in a vat thought experiment as a criticism of internalism.

Accepted Answer

The brain in a vat thought experiment is a philosophical scenario that challenges the idea of internalism, which is the belief that all knowledge and justification comes from within the mind. In this thought experiment, a person's brain is removed from their body and placed in a vat of nutrients, while a supercomputer simulates the experiences of the outside world and feeds them directly into the brain. The person in the vat would have no way of knowing that their experiences are not real, as the simulation would be indistinguishable from actual experiences.

This thought experiment serves as a criticism of internalism because it shows that our beliefs and justifications could be based on false or simulated experiences, rather than on internal mental states. If all knowledge and justification were truly internal, then the person in the vat would still be able to have justified beliefs about the external world, even though their experiences are entirely simulated. However, this thought experiment demonstrates that our beliefs and justifications are not solely based on internal mental states, but also on external factors that we may not be aware of.

Therefore, the brain in a vat thought experiment challenges the idea of internalism by highlighting the possibility that our beliefs and justifications may be influenced by external factors beyond our control, rather than solely by our internal mental states. It raises important questions about the nature of knowledge and justification, and the extent to which they are dependent on external factors.

Question 4

Which of the following is equivalent to "If S knows that p, then S believes that p, p is true, and S's belief is justified"?

Accepted Answer

A)  If S believes that p, then S knows that p, and p is true. 
B)  If S believes that p, then S knows that p, p is true, and S's belief is justified. 
C)  If S believes that p, and S's belief is justified, then S knows that p. 
D)  If S believes that p, and S's belief is both justified and true, then S knows that p. 
A)  If S believes that p, then S knows that p, and p is true. 
B)  If S believes that p, then S knows that p, p is true, and S's belief is justified. 
C)  If S believes that p, and S's belief is justified, then S knows that p. 
D)  If S believes that p, and S's belief is both justified and true, then S knows that p.

Question 5

Which possibility, regarding the chain of justification, can be used to justify any conclusion?

Accepted Answer

A)  The chain of beliefs that justify other beliefs is infinite. 
B)  The chain of justifying beliefs has a circular structure and eventually returns to where it started. 
C)  The chain of justifying beliefs is simply an illusion and all beliefs have the same justification. 
D)  There must be some justified beliefs that are not justified by other beliefs. 
A)  The chain of beliefs that justify other beliefs is infinite. 
B)  The chain of justifying beliefs has a circular structure and eventually returns to where it started. 
C)  The chain of justifying beliefs is simply an illusion and all beliefs have the same justification. 
D)  There must be some justified beliefs that are not justified by other beliefs.

Question 6

For coherentists, an individual belief, p, is justified

Accepted Answer

A)  if S believes that p, and p is true. 
B)  if S believes that p is coherent. 
C)  in virtue of p's membership in a system of basic beliefs. 
D)  in virtue of p's membership in a coherent system of beliefs. 
A)  if S believes that p, and p is true. 
B)  if S believes that p is coherent. 
C)  in virtue of p's membership in a system of basic beliefs. 
D)  in virtue of p's membership in a coherent system of beliefs.

Question 7

Critics of foundationalism claim that talk of "self-justification" is

Accepted Answer

A)  epistemically vacuous. 
B)  epistemically incoherent. 
C)  another way of saying that we should accept certain beliefs for no reason at all. 
D)  another way of saying that one prefers one's own beliefs over other beliefs. 
A)  epistemically vacuous. 
B)  epistemically incoherent. 
C)  another way of saying that we should accept certain beliefs for no reason at all. 
D)  another way of saying that one prefers one's own beliefs over other beliefs.

Question 8

Philosophers who do not think that justification of a belief must guarantee that belief's truth are called

Accepted Answer

A)  internalists. 
B)  externalists. 
C)  skeptics. 
D)  fallibilists. 
A)  internalists. 
B)  externalists. 
C)  skeptics. 
D)  fallibilists.

Question 9

The "isolation objection" to coherentism claims that its account of epistemic justification is isolated from

Accepted Answer

A)  other coherent beliefs one might have. 
B)  what is going on in the external world. 
C)  epistemically basic beliefs. 
D)  what happens in the practical scientific disciplines. 
A)  other coherent beliefs one might have. 
B)  what is going on in the external world. 
C)  epistemically basic beliefs. 
D)  what happens in the practical scientific disciplines.

Question 10

Edmund Gettier used what have come to be called "Gettier cases" to show that one can

Accepted Answer

A)  know something without justification. 
B)  know something without it being true. 
C)  have a true belief that is not justified. 
D)  have a justified true belief that is not an instance of knowledge. 
A)  know something without justification. 
B)  know something without it being true. 
C)  have a true belief that is not justified. 
D)  have a justified true belief that is not an instance of knowledge.

Question 11

The branch of philosophy that tries to answer the question "What, exactly, is knowledge?" is

Accepted Answer

A)  metaphysics. 
B)  epistemology. 
C)  aesthetics. 
D)  scientology. 
A)  metaphysics. 
B)  epistemology. 
C)  aesthetics. 
D)  scientology.

Question 12

Which kind of knowledge are the following examples instances of?
Lachlan knows that Ottawa is the capital of Canada.
Shanice knows that there is no greatest prime number.
Hyeon knows that John Quincy Adams was the sixth president of the United States.

Accepted Answer

A)  Skill or ability 
B)  Acquaintance 
C)  Epistemic knowledge 
D)  Knowledge of facts 
A)  Skill or ability 
B)  Acquaintance 
C)  Epistemic knowledge 
D)  Knowledge of facts

Question 13

While foundationalists think that our justified beliefs are structured like a building, coherentists maintain that our justified beliefs are structured like a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  web. 
B)  tree. 
C)  forest. 
D)  animal. 
A)  web. 
B)  tree. 
C)  forest. 
D)  animal.

Question 14

A belief that p, which is acquired by luck, is missing the __________ aspect of knowledge.

Accepted Answer

A)  truth 
B)  justification 
C)  epistemic certainty 
D)  All of the above 
A)  truth 
B)  justification 
C)  epistemic certainty 
D)  All of the above

Question 15

Explain foundationalism and one objection to it.

Accepted Answer

Foundationalism is a theory in epistemol

Question 16

Skepticism claims that the justification a person has for her belief

Accepted Answer

A)  must guarantee that the belief is true. 
B)  must make it likely that the belief is true. 
C)  is always circular, and thus can never be shown to be legitimate. 
D)  is always inaccessible to her own mind. 
A)  must guarantee that the belief is true. 
B)  must make it likely that the belief is true. 
C)  is always circular, and thus can never be shown to be legitimate. 
D)  is always inaccessible to her own mind.

Question 17

Aristotle noted that there are three possibilities as to where the chain of inference and justification of one belief by others may stop. Which of the following is not one of those possibilities?

Accepted Answer

A)  It doesn't stop; the chain of beliefs that justify other beliefs is infinite. 
B)  The chain of justifying beliefs has a circular structure and eventually returns to where it started. 
C)  The chain of justifying beliefs is simply an illusion and all beliefs have the same justification. 
D)  There must be some justified beliefs that are not justified by other beliefs. 
A)  It doesn't stop; the chain of beliefs that justify other beliefs is infinite. 
B)  The chain of justifying beliefs has a circular structure and eventually returns to where it started. 
C)  The chain of justifying beliefs is simply an illusion and all beliefs have the same justification. 
D)  There must be some justified beliefs that are not justified by other beliefs.

Question 18

Sometimes we have beliefs (Level-1) that are inferred and justified by other beliefs (Level-2), which are in turn inferred and justified by still other beliefs (Level-N), and so on. __________ was the first philosopher to ask where this sort of inference and justification stops.

Accepted Answer

A)  Plato 
B)  Aristotle 
C)  Descartes 
D)  John Locke 
A)  Plato 
B)  Aristotle 
C)  Descartes 
D)  John Locke

Question 19

Almost all philosophers agree that if one knows that p is the case, then

Accepted Answer

A)  p is true. 
B)  p cannot be false. 
C)  one believes that p. 
D)  All of the above 
A)  p is true. 
B)  p cannot be false. 
C)  one believes that p. 
D)  All of the above

Question 20

Philosophers often describe the form of sentences of propositional knowledge as

Accepted Answer

A)  S purports that p. 
B)  S purports p. 
C)  S knows that p. 
D)  S knows p. 
A)  S purports that p. 
B)  S purports p. 
C)  S knows that p. 
D)  S knows p.

__________ was not a foundationalist.

Explain knowledge as acquaintance, knowledge how, and propositional knowledge. Include examples of each.

Discuss the brain in a vat thought experiment as a criticism of internalism.

Which of the following is equivalent to "If S knows that p, then S believes that p, p is true, and S's belief is justified"?

Which possibility, regarding the chain of justification, can be used to justify any conclusion?

For coherentists, an individual belief, p, is justified

Critics of foundationalism claim that talk of "self-justification" is

Philosophers who do not think that justification of a belief must guarantee that belief's truth are called

The "isolation objection" to coherentism claims that its account of epistemic justification is isolated from

Edmund Gettier used what have come to be called "Gettier cases" to show that one can

The branch of philosophy that tries to answer the question "What, exactly, is knowledge?" is

Which kind of knowledge are the following examples instances of? Lachlan knows that Ottawa is the capital of Canada. Shanice knows that there is no greatest prime number. Hyeon knows that John Quincy Adams was the sixth president of the United States.

While foundationalists think that our justified beliefs are structured like a building, coherentists maintain that our justified beliefs are structured like a(n)

A belief that p, which is acquired by luck, is missing the __________ aspect of knowledge.

Explain foundationalism and one objection to it.

Skepticism claims that the justification a person has for her belief

Aristotle noted that there are three possibilities as to where the chain of inference and justification of one belief by others may stop. Which of the following is not one of those possibilities?

Sometimes we have beliefs (Level-1) that are inferred and justified by other beliefs (Level-2), which are in turn inferred and justified by still other beliefs (Level-N), and so on. __________ was the first philosopher to ask where this sort of inference and justification stops.

Almost all philosophers agree that if one knows that p is the case, then

Philosophers often describe the form of sentences of propositional knowledge as

What Is Philosophy?

What Are Arguments, and How Should We Evaluate Them?

Does God Exist?

Why Does God Leave Us to Suffer?

Can We Be Completely Certain of Anything?

Can We Trust Our Senses?

Will the Sun Rise Tomorrow?

Do We Have Free Will?

How Is Your Mind Related to Your Body?

Will You Be the Same Person in Ten Years? Could You Survive Death?

Are There Objective Truths About Right and Wrong?

What Really Matters?

What Should We Do Part I?

What Should We Do part II?

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Exam 8: What Is Knowledge?

__________ was not a foundationalist.

Explain knowledge as acquaintance, knowledge how, and propositional knowledge. Include examples of each.

Discuss the brain in a vat thought experiment as a criticism of internalism.

Which of the following is equivalent to "If S knows that p, then S believes that p, p is true, and S's belief is justified"?

Which possibility, regarding the chain of justification, can be used to justify any conclusion?

For coherentists, an individual belief, p, is justified

Critics of foundationalism claim that talk of "self-justification" is

Philosophers who do not think that justification of a belief must guarantee that belief's truth are called

The "isolation objection" to coherentism claims that its account of epistemic justification is isolated from

Edmund Gettier used what have come to be called "Gettier cases" to show that one can

The branch of philosophy that tries to answer the question "What, exactly, is knowledge?" is

Which kind of knowledge are the following examples instances of? Lachlan knows that Ottawa is the capital of Canada. Shanice knows that there is no greatest prime number. Hyeon knows that John Quincy Adams was the sixth president of the United States.

While foundationalists think that our justified beliefs are structured like a building, coherentists maintain that our justified beliefs are structured like a(n)

A belief that p, which is acquired by luck, is missing the __________ aspect of knowledge.

Explain foundationalism and one objection to it.

Skepticism claims that the justification a person has for her belief

Aristotle noted that there are three possibilities as to where the chain of inference and justification of one belief by others may stop. Which of the following is not one of those possibilities?

Sometimes we have beliefs (Level-1) that are inferred and justified by other beliefs (Level-2), which are in turn inferred and justified by still other beliefs (Level-N), and so on. __________ was the first philosopher to ask where this sort of inference and justification stops.

Almost all philosophers agree that if one knows that p is the case, then

Philosophers often describe the form of sentences of propositional knowledge as

What Is Philosophy?

What Are Arguments, and How Should We Evaluate Them?

Does God Exist?

Why Does God Leave Us to Suffer?

Can We Be Completely Certain of Anything?

Can We Trust Our Senses?

Will the Sun Rise Tomorrow?

Do We Have Free Will?

How Is Your Mind Related to Your Body?

Will You Be the Same Person in Ten Years? Could You Survive Death?

Are There Objective Truths About Right and Wrong?

What Really Matters?

What Should We Do Part I?

What Should We Do part II?

Filters