MetaPhysics: nature of knowledge

who developed the heliocentric model

Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543)

heliocentric model

where the sun, not earth, is the center of the universe

Nicolaus Copernicus published the

De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium in 1543

Nicolaus Copernicus challenged

Ptolemaic (geocentric) model dominant in medieval though

what did Galileo Galilei use to observe celestial bodies

a telescope, supporting Copernican theory

what did Galileo discover

moon of Jupiter, phases of venus, and sunspots

who did Galileo face opposition from

the Catholic Church

what was Galileo tried for in 1633

heresy

what did Galileo advocate for

empirical observation as a foundation for knowledge

Rene Descartes sought

absolute certainty in knowledge

Methodological doubt

question everything that can be doubted

famous conclusion of Rene Descartes

Cogito, ergo sum (I think, therefore I am)

mind

thinking substance

body

extended substance

cartesian dualism is

distinction between mind (thinking substance) and body (extended substance)

meditation 1

skepticism about the senses; dreams and deception hypothesis

meditation 2

the certainty of the self as a thinking being

meditation 3

argument for God’s existence based on the idea of a perfect being

meditation 4

explanation of error as a result of human free will

David Hume believed in

empiricism, causation skepticism, induction problem

empiricism

knowledge comes from experience

experience is

impressions and ideas

causation skepticism

we do not directly observe causation, only regular sequences of events

induction problem

we assume the future will resemble the past, but this is not logically necessary

matter of fact vs. relations of ideas is

Analytic vs. synthetic knowledge

critique of miracles

belief in miracles is irrational because evidence from experience outweighs testimony

what are the basis of human knowledge rather than rational certainty

custom and habit

Kant sought to

reconcile rationalism by descartes and empiricism by hume

Kant believed in

Transcendental idealism

Transcendental idealism

the mind actively shapes experience

Kant believed in a distinction between a

priori and a posteriori knowledge

priori

independent of experience

posteriori

from experience

synthetic a priori judgements

knowledge that is necessarily true but expands understanding

categories of understanding

fundamental concepts like causality and substance structure our experience

the world as we experience it is

phenomena

things as as they are in themselves is

noumena

the world as we experience it vs

things as they are in themselves

Kant’s response to Hume

causality is not derived from experience but is a necessary condition for understanding it