nick smith
epistemology notes
tu/th

extra credit: (worth letter grade on 2nd test) 2-3 pages typed
--write about the beliefs you came to this class with and have you encountered any questions about their justification? have they changed? what changes do you plan to make in the future about how you form beliefs?--

notes:
there are 2 options for coming to conclusions-
1.try to reproduce through experiment
2.wild association and speculation
you can control which of these you do (indirect)

libertarian view of doxastic responsibility:
-its not immoral to form beliefs in a way not conductive to truth-just imprudent or foolish
-beliefs are private, nobody's business

part of forming hypotheses involves creative thinking.

do we have a duty to believe the truth? (or do our best to form true beliefs?) what is the difference between beliefs and attitudes?

is truth intrinsically valuable, or only as a means to other goods? (e.g. happiness)
do you choose a painful truth (my wife is having an affair) or a comforting lie (my wife is faithful)?

pojman: false beliefs should be fostered only under the most extreme of circumstances. in general, it is wrong to violate your "epistemic duty"

does morality even attach to belief or only to behavior? (ex. racist beliefs, sex with children...is it immoral to like these things if you aren't acting on it? what constitutes action? speech?


wow. too many questions. no answers.