Epistemology and Skepticism

These flashcards cover key concepts in epistemology, skepticism, and moral philosophy based on the lecture notes provided.

Epistemology

The study of knowledge.

Justified True Belief (JTB)

A belief is considered knowledge if it is true, justified, and the individual genuinely believes it.

Evidentialism

The theory that belief is justified only if there is clear evidence that one can understand.

Reliabilism

A belief is justified if the process leading to that belief is generally reliable.

Internalism

The justification for a belief must come from factors that can be understood internally by the believer.

Externalism

The justification for a belief can depend on external factors outside the believer's knowledge.

Foundationalism

A theory that knowledge should be built on solid, unquestionable beliefs.

Cartesian Skepticism

Extreme doubt about reality, questioning the existence of the external world.

Underdetermination

The idea that evidence may not be sufficient to determine which explanation is correct.

Abduction/Inference to Best Explanation

A reasoning method where evidence suggests the most plausible explanation, even if it doesn't definitively prove it.

Real-World Hypothesis

The view that a real, physical world exists and causes our perceptions.

Cartesian Skeptical Hypothesis

The theory that perceptions may be deceptive, caused by illusions such as an evil demon or brain in a vat.

Moral Skepticism

The philosophical questioning of whether we can truly know what is morally right or wrong.

Justified Moral Beliefs

Having good reasons to believe that something is morally right or wrong.

Dogmatic Moral Skepticism

The view that we absolutely cannot have knowledge of moral facts.

Pyrrhonian Moral Skepticism

A stance that neither denies nor affirms whether we have knowledge of moral facts.