Theories of Knowledge
Tues, May 14

Read chapter 7 for Thurs, 5/16
Read chapter 8 for Tues, 5/21
Exam on chapters 4-7
Exam starts Tues, 5/21--
ends Tues, 5/28 @ 8pm

Gettier problem is a problem for the tripartite analysis of knowledge.

Tripartite analysis of knowledge:
Knowledge is -belief
-true
-justified

~Gettier problem: some true, justified beliefs don't seem intuitively to be knowledge
~Pojman problem: the truth of a belief and its justification must be related in the right way

~Ways of Justifying a Belief
(dealing w/a regress problem)
1. Truth B is unjust alone, only justified by Truth A, which is unjustified
2. Truth A justifies T.B, which justifies T.C, ......through infinity
Pojman: this requires and infinite set of beliefs; impossible for a finite mind
Reply to Pojman: unnecessary to have infinite set of beliefs, only need the possibility of going on-stop where practical
3. Truth A relies on T.B, which relies on T.C, which relies on T.A, thus creating a circle
~Coherentism: if the circle of justification is big enough, it brings justification
4. Truth A justifies T.B, but T.A is based on a foundational belief that needs no more justification (self-justifying)

~Foundationalists: Descartes, Aristotle, Plato, Locke, Berkeley
~Rationalists response: foundationalism is logic and mathematics
~Empiricists response: found. is logic and math, + things 'evident to the senses'

~To be in foundation
(classical found., pre-20th century)
-infallible -indubitable
-incorrigible -necessary truths
-self-evident -basic moral beliefs(?)

~Basic belief-belief in a person's belief system foundation
-not believed on basis of another belief

~Properly basic belief-a belief which is justifiably basic
-belongs in foundation

*Falliblism--modern foundationalist idea
-some fallible beliefs belong in the foundation