1 Introduction to Epistemology Free Online FlashCards

What does epistemology study?

Epistemology is the branch of philosophy that studies knowledge, justified belief, and the limits of what we can know.

What does it mean to believe a claim?

To believe a claim is to accept it as true, at least to some degree.

What are the three conditions in the justified true belief account?

The justified true belief account says a person knows a proposition when it is true, the person believes it, and the person is justified in believing it.

Why does a lucky guess challenge the idea that true belief is enough for knowledge?

A true belief can be a lucky guess. Its truth and the believer’s acceptance alone do not provide the support needed for knowledge.

What makes a case a Gettier case?

Gettier cases are situations in which someone appears to have a justified true belief, yet the belief is true partly by luck.

What does justification assess?

Justification concerns whether a belief is appropriately supported.

What are four possible sources of evidence?

Evidence can come from perception, memory, testimony, or reasoning.

What is disputed about adequate justification?

Epistemologists disagree about what makes support adequate, including whether a person must explain their reasons or whether reliable belief-forming methods are enough.

What are two meanings of certainty?

Certainty can mean either a feeling of complete confidence or an epistemic status in which a claim cannot reasonably be doubted.

Does feeling certain guarantee that a belief is true?

Feeling certain does not guarantee that a belief is true; a person can feel completely confident and still be mistaken.

Must knowledge be free from every imaginable doubt?

Knowledge does not usually require absolute certainty; a person may know something while recognizing that some possibility of error remains.

What challenge do skeptical arguments raise about possible error?

Skeptical arguments ask whether we really know something if we cannot rule out every possible error.