Epistemology Lecture - Gettier Problem

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture on epistemology and the Gettier problem.

Epistemology

The branch of philosophy that studies the nature, origin, and limits of knowledge.

Justified True Belief (JTB)

A traditional model of knowledge stating that for someone to know a proposition, it must be true, they must believe it, and there must be justification for that belief.

Gettier Problem

A challenge to the JTB definition of knowledge, which presents situations where these three conditions are satisfied, yet intuitively, knowledge is absent.

Counterexample

An example intended to refute or challenge a particular theory or proposition; used by philosophers to test theoretical definitions.

Justification

The reasoning or evidence that supports a belief or claim, establishing it as reasonable to hold.

No False Lemmas Condition

A proposed additional condition to knowledge stating that justification for a belief must not involve any false beliefs.

Causal Theory of Knowledge

The theory suggesting that knowledge requires the truth of a belief to be causally connected to the justification for that belief.

Müller-Lyer Illusion

A well-known visual illusion that demonstrates how perception can differ from reality, relevant to discussions of perception and belief.

Plato’s Jury Example

A philosophical case used by Plato to illustrate that true belief does not suffice for knowledge if it lacks proper justification.

Deviant Causal Chains

Situations where the causal connection contributing to a belief’s truth is unusual or unlikely, thereby raising questions about knowledge.