phi 205 exam 1 terms

logical consistency

reason demands that our big picture view of the universe contain only claims that can be true together

logical possibility

a state of affairs that violates the laws of nature

lexical definitions

definitions that are stated in standard dictionaries, which attempt to explain how particular words are used by native speakers of a language

real definitions

when philosophers investigate the meaning of a word

counterexamples

an example of something that does fall under the concept, but doesnt meet the proposed set of necessary conditions

arguments

reasons for thinking that an assertion is true

inductive argument

arguments that establish their conclusions only to some degree of probability

deductive argument

the premises aim to provide conclusive support for the truth of the conclusion

epistemology

the theory of knowledge

skepticism

the theory that certain knowledge is impossible

descartes method of doubt

take a look at all of our beliefs and check whether we can find any reason to doubt whether they are true

rationalism

justification of basic beliefs with the help of pure reason

descartes cogito

I think; therefore I am

foundationalism

all beliefs ultimately rest on a foundational belief

empiricism

we can know something if we can justfiy it with respect to what we see, hear, smell, touch, or taste

naive realism

the world is exactly as we percieve it to be.

indirect realism

the world around us is not exactly as it appears to be; the world independent of our perception has neither color nor smell nor taste.

idealism

an idealist abandons the idea that there are “real” material objects “behind” our perceptions

problem of induction

our experiences of the world can confirm or disconfirm only particular facts, not general and universal claims

principle of the uniformity of nature

nature is such that the laws that govern the past will also govern the future

a priori

justification that can take place without first seeing, touching, or hearing anything in particular

a posteriori

requires that we refer to specific experiences of the world as a means of justification

necessary truth

true independently of what the world is actually like

contingent truth

truth that depends on what happens in the real world

analytic

truth by definition

synthetic truth

not true by definition