Theories of Knowledge
Class Notes for April 11, 02 Thursday

Assignment: Read Chapter 3 for Tuesday 4/16

~~~Skepticism~~~

Skepticism was a reaction to Stoicism

~Stoicism: "God exists and is fire." (Dogmatists)
~in each of us is a spark of the divine.
~knowledge is possible: we should act ethically toward others.
~extreme rationalists--- goal: Happiness is achieved thru knowledge and control of ones actions to consequences.
~could gain knowledge thru a priori deductions.

~Academic (Moderate) Skepticism:
~knowledge isn't ever 100% but some beliefs are more probable than others.
~came from Plato/Socrates (Plato's Academy) ~Socrates was told by the oracle at Delphi that no one was wiser than him. Due to epistemic humility Socrates questioned everyone about their beliefs. ~his conclusion to being told he was the wisest: "I am the wisest because I realize that I am not wise."


~Pyrrohian (Radical) Skepticism:
~you can't know anything! even the fact that nothing is certain.
~knowledge (the pursuit of) leads to suffering ( and UNCERTAINTY)... "ignorance is bliss.", "the more you learn the less you know."


~~Skeptical Argument~~
~infinite regress of justification: questions, questions, and more questions, until the belief breaks down.
~Foundationalism: certain beliefs that are irrefutable
~Coherentism: goes on until enough justification of other beliefs to make the first one true.


~~Modern Skepticism~~
~Descartes: 17th Century (1600's)
~founder of modern epistemology
~thought that reason would justify his Christian Beliefs
~Before Descartes, philosophy was the bible,church fathers and Aristotle. (mostly textually commentary)
~Meditations: Descartes published this work instead of his work on the universe and physics because of fear of reprisal. Meditations was meant as a foundation for modern science.
~starts out with a dream argument and an arch deceiver argument. Both are skeptical arguments to clear away preconceived ideas.
~Dream Argument: questions a posteriori beliefs. "How do we know we can trust our senses?"
~Arch Deceiver Argument: questions a priori beliefs. "How do we know there isn't someone(thing) falsely implanting our beliefs?"