philosophy exam

what is epistemology

Epistemology is the study of knowledge: what it is, how we get it, and its lim

what is belief

what you think it true (this can be wrong)

what is truth - and the three types

truth is what actually matches reality

• absolute: a truth that is always true, regardless of perspective or context

• relative: truth that depends on personal perspective

• constructed: truth that is created by society by shared agreement

what is justification

the reason or evidence as to why you support a belief

what is justified true belief

• you believe it

• it is true

• you have good reasons for it

common ways we justify beliefs

• sensory experience - what we see or hear (this can be misleading - illusions)

• reason - using our logic (our logic can be misapplied)

• authority - experts can tell us things (this can be biased)

what is empiricism

the belief that knowlwdge comes from observations and senses (touch, smell, sight)

• locke and hume

• however this can be unreliable

what is rationalism

the belief that knowledge comes from reason alone

• decartes

• for example we see this in math. math isnt a sense thing, it is based off logic

what are some theories of truth

• correspondence - truth matches reality

• coherence - fits with other beliefs

• pragmatic - it works within your practice

what is the social contract

an agreement where people give up some freedom in exchange for security, order, and protection

what is “state of nature”

thinking of life without government is often used to justify why governments exist

who are some key philosophers to do with social and political philosophy

hobbes, locke, rousseau

what is hobbes believe

• humans were selfish and dangerous creatures

• life without government = chaos

• he would rather have security than freedom

what did john locke believe

• humans are rational creatures

• nature rights were our life, liberty, and property

• and the government must protect our rights

what did Rousseau believe

• humans were naturally good

• society is what creates inequality

• general will is what is best for everyone

• common good is better than individual good (majority wins)

what is civil disobedience

• when laws are unjust - people will resist

• its the moral duty to oppose to unjust laws

• ex protests, refusing laws

how many major political ideologies are there

1. liberalism

2. conservatism

3. socialism

4. absolutism

5. anarchism

what is liberalism

• individual rights and freedoms, government focuses on rights, and equality for all

what is conservatism

• traditional and stable, slow with cautious change

what is socialism

• equality and fairness

• collective ownership

• reducing inequality

what is absolutism

there is one ruler, who has total power

what is anarchism

there is no government or power

• it is self ruled

what is a utopia

a perfect society with harmony, justice, equality

what is a dystopia

a society where control leads to oppression and suffering

what are the core features of science

1. empirical

2. testable

3. replicable

4. predictive

5. self-correcting

what is empirical

science based on observation and evidence

what is testable

science based on claims that can be tested

what is replicable

science that results can be repeated by others

what is predictive science

science that explains and predicts outcomes

what is self-correcting science

science that changes with new evidence

what is moral knowledge

right vs right

what is religious knowledge

faith and meaning

what is cultural and indigenous knowledge

knowledge from experience and tradition

what are the two types of knowledge in science

1. a posteriori - knowledge of scienec from experience (observations, experiement)

2. a priori - knowledge of science from reason (like math or logic)

what is scientific truth

• scientific truth is not absolute and based on best available evidence (more recent evidence or science)

• always open to change or difference
  

what is scientific realism

theories that describe real things in the world

• even if we cant see them (ex. atoms, and molecules)

what is scientific anti-realism

• theories are just useful tools

• they do not have to be actually true

what is the difference between science and faith

• science is based on evidence and testing - faith is based on belief and tradition

• science explains how the world works and is testable - faith explores the meaning and purpose of the world, and it isnt always testable

what are the 4 models of relationship

1. conflict - science and religion oppose each other

2. independence - they are separate areas

3. dialogue - they can learn from each other

4. integration - it is a combination of both