Chapter 9: Self- Knowledge

Self Knowledge

knowledge of our own mental states, such as our own feelings, conscious states, memories and beliefs, reasoning leading us to act as we do, character traits, strengths and weaknesses

Inner Sense Model

there is a perceiving part of the self and a perceived of the self

Introspection

inner sense faculty that is able to perceive our own mental states (look within ourselves)

Privileged Access

we are able to know ourselves in a way that other people cannot know us

First Person Authority

you have this about your own mental states

David Armstrong

Supports inner sense model; says self knowledge involves us sensing our mental states. Introspective abilities are largely reliable, but can be mistaken

Theatre of the Mind

Humes analogy where an actor is on stage as the thing being observed. The things on the stage like his feelings and thought's are in our minds. That is all that exists, no observer in the stands

Behaviorism

the mental states are defined by stimulus response patterns. Others can observe our physical actions

Behavior

is observable bodily movements, facial expressions and posture changes or utterances in response to some stimulus.

Disposition

a tendency to behave in a certain way, given the appropriate situation

B.F. Skinner

Says mental states cannot be known or observable, so we use behavioral responses to study those mental states

Gilbert Ryle

Rejects inner sense model, says we gain self knowledge in the same way that we gain knowledge of others, we cannot properly assess ourselves

Infallible

Since we experience mental states directly, we cannot be mistaken about them, and those mental states are part of the self, so we can have infallible self knowledge

Luminous

mental states are luminous, or conscious, rather then unconscious. (we are not zombies)

Brie Gertler

Likes the acquaintance model, argues that self knowledge by acquaintance is direct and therefore infallible

Acquaintance

a person can know their own thoughts and desires by acquaintance with them

Direct

self knowledge is immediate or direct

Extrospection

examination of matters external to oneself

Gareth Evans

Self knowledge doesn't arise by introspecting our own minds and rejects infallibility of self knowledge

Aristotle

Argues that thinking is similar to perception, it is easier to perceive others than ourselves.

Attribution Bias

common mistakes of reasoning that occur when people attribute reasons to other people, and evaluate them

Self-Deception

intentionally tricking ones self into believing X is true, when one knows X is false

Paradox of Self-Deception

the self knows they are tricking themselves, but falls for it anyway

Alfred Mele

Self deception occurs when strong desires or emotions bias us to believe statement p about ourselves, though an impartial observer would see that p is false. Desires arise from self interest

Bias

we are biased about some statement p when we are motivated to believe p is true, though the average impartial observer believes p is false

Deception

intentionally tricking someone into believing X is true when one knows its false

Self Interested

individual makes decisions for his or her own benefit

Epistemic Rationality

reasoning that aims at truth

Epistemic Irrationality

reasoning that aims at achieving ones goals

Instrumental Rationality

successfully use reason to achieve our goals

Instrumental Irrationality

fail to properly use reason to achieve our goals