Monday 28 October 2013

Seminar 4 - 30th Oct - Foundationalism and Coherentism

Reading: Sosa - The Raft and The Pyramid

1. What does Sosa think are the two key questions in the theory of knowledge? Which do you think we should try to answer first? Why?

2. According to Sosa, is foundationalism like a raft or a pyramid? What does he mean by this?

3. Descartes is a foundationalist. What belief do you think is at the top 'node' for Descartes? Is it 'perfectly obvious'?

4. What beliefs are 'pefectly obvious' to you?

5. What does Sosa think is the 'fatal weakness' of radical foundationalism? Do you agree?

6. What metaphor does Sosa use to explain coherentism?

7. What is the anti-foundationanlist argument on pg 383? Do you agree with it?

8. What is the regress argument on pg 385?

9. If A justifies B, and B justifies C, can C justify A?

10. Are you a foundationalist or a coherentist, or neither? Why?

Saturday 19 October 2013

Seminar 3 - 23rd Nov - Knowledge

Reading:

Goldman, A Causal Theory Of Knowing
(on blackboard and in the coursepack)

Questions:

1. What are the three conditions given by the traditional account of knowledge? Do you agree that they are all necesscary?

2. Does Giettier think the traditional account is a complete account?

3. Why/why not? (Harder optional question: try to think of your own Giettier style example)

4. Does Goldman agree that something is missing from the traditional anyalsis?

5. If yes, what does he think that thing is? If no, why not?

6. What is the lava example on pg 361? Is it a case of knowldege? Is there a causal connection between p and the belief that p in this case?

7. Is inference a causal connection?

8. Is there a causal connection between 2+2=4 and my belief that it is so?

9. Is there a causal connection between 'all men are mortal' and my belief that it is so? (NB I havent percieved *all* men, nor has anyone else)


Monday 14 October 2013

Seminar 2 - 16th Oct - Descartes Second Meditation

Reading:

Descartes Second Meditation

Questions:
1. Does Descartes think 'I am, I exisit' is beyond doubt or not?
2. What thoughts come "spontaeously and naturally" to you when you consider what you are?
3. What about Descartes? (Depending on your translation, look around paragraph 6 of the second meditation). Is your answer different to Descartes? And can either be defended against the sceptic?
4. What does Descartes attribute to the body?
5. And what does he attribute to the soul?
6. Which of the attributes Descartes talks about could be tricks played by the evil deamon? What does Descartes think and what do you think?
7.Can you imagine yourself without a body?
8.Do you know the nature of your mind better than you know the nature of your body?

Monday 7 October 2013

Descartes and Doubt (Week 2 - 9th Oct)

In the seminar we will focus on Kenny, Chapter 2, 'Catesian Doubt'.

Please read and *think* about this article. Decide which parts you agree with and which parts you dont. Also note down any parts you dont understand.

Email me if you have any questions.

From next week there will be seminar questions posted on this blog in advance of the seminar.