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Epistemology

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Epistemology is the study or theory of knowledge. ... A proposition is a statement of fact in which some thing or attribute is ... The Pitfall of Logical Positivism ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Epistemology


1
Epistemology
  • Accounting for knowledge in philosophy

2
Definitions
  • Epistemology comes from the Greek word episteme
    meaning knowledge or understanding.
  • Epistemology is the study or theory of knowledge.
  • There is a difference between guessing and
    knowing.

3
Defining the content of knowledge
  • Propositional knowledge
  • A proposition is a statement of fact in which
    some thing or attribute is predicated of a
    subject, linked by a being verb.
  • E.g. Dogs are furry animals 224
  • The word know has several uses, not all of
    which are propositional.

4
Testing Criteria
  • In order to know a proposition,
  • that proposition must be true.
  • one must believe the proposition to be true.
  • one able to provide adequate evidence that the
    belief is true.
  • Knowledge justified true belief.

5
Detecting justified true belief
  • How do philosophers determine whether or not a
    statement is a justified true belief?
  • They make distinctions between
  • A priori and a posteriori justification
  • A posteriori on the basis of observation, only
    on the basis of experience. Synonym is
    empirical.
  • A Priori without relying on observation.

6
Justified True Belief, cont.
  • And also make distinctions between
  • Analytic and Synthetic Statements
  • Analytic Relies solely on the definition of
    terms. If you understand the terms, you can
    justify the statement.
  • Synthetic Truth or falsity does not depend
    solely of the definitions of its terms. It is
    justified by information learned in the statement
    which can be tested empirically. The information
    contained in the statement must be synthesized.

7
The Pitfall of Logical Positivism
  • Although it is helpful to make distinctions
    between analytic and synthetic statements, it
    does not follow that only such statements can be
    counted as evidence of logically meaningful
    statement.
  • The logical positivists verification principle
    is self defeating, since it is neither true by
    definition, nor can it be proved by sense
    experience.

8
Justified True Belief, cont.
  • We also distinguish between
  • Logically Necessary and Logically Contingent
    Statements
  • Logically Necessary statements must be true, or
    stated differently, they cannot be false. It
    will be true in every possible world
  • Logically Contingent statements are statements
    that are true in some possible worlds but not in
    others.

9
Modal Analysis
  • Herman Dooyeweerd, A New Critique of Theoretical
    Thought, 4 vols.,1953-1958
  • A determination regarding which aspect or mode of
    meaning is under discussion must be determined.
  • No mode or aspect by itself can explain all of
    the others. All statements flow from faith
    commitments.
  • Philosophy can hide religious ground motives by
    appealing to a certain mode as ultimately
    necessary.

10
Metaphysical Realities
  • Metaphysical truths, then, are propositions which
    can be demonstrated logically and related to a
    transcendental norm.
  • They sometimes can be justified through
    evidentiary means.
  • The burden of proof is upon atheists and agnostic
    to demonstrate that their approach can provide a
    satisfying theory of knowledge.
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