Lecture Notes Review: Epistemology, Logic, and Knowledge

Vocabulary flashcards covering key epistemology and logic concepts from the notes.

Rational Belief Principle

Beliefs and convictions about a proposition should be proportionate to the strength of the best available evidence; it is rational to believe to the extent the evidence supports.

Epistemic Culpability Principle

A person is epistemically culpable if they have violated a duty to be reasonable or to think carefully about a claim.

Justification

A set of reasons, other beliefs, or evidence taken to support a claim.

Principle of Sufficient Reason

For every truth, there exists a reason why it is true; truths have explanations or justifications.

Law of Non-Contradiction

A proposition cannot be both true and false in the same respect at the same time.

Logical Possibility

What is possible in principle according to the laws of logic; not necessarily feasible in the real world.

Natural (Empirical) Possibility

What is possible in the natural world; physically or empirically feasible.

Logical vs Natural Possibility

A distinction where something can be logically possible but not naturally possible.

Belief

An attitude of assent to a claim, whether or not it is actually true; belief is mind-dependent.

Suspended Judgment

Withholding belief or disbelief about a claim.

Fallibilism

It can be rational to believe a proposition even if it could turn out false; beliefs can be provisional.

Correspondence Theory of Truth

A statement is true if it corresponds to the facts; truth is mind-independent.

Truth Value

Every proposition has a truth value (true or false) in standard logic.

Logical Consistency

A set of sentences is logically consistent if it could all be true at the same time.

A Priori Truth

Truth known independently of experience.

A Posteriori Truth

Truth known through experience; knowledge derived from empirical evidence.

Contingent Truth

A truth that could have been false; not necessary.

Necessary Truth

A truth that must be true in all possible worlds.

JTB (Justified True Belief)

Knowledge is a belief that is true and justified.

Knowledge

A justified true belief; the state of having a belief that is true and justified.

Evidence

Information or reasons that support a belief; the strength of evidence influences belief strength.

Premises

The statements offered as reasons in support of a conclusion.

Argument

A set of premises or reasons that support a conclusion.