Philosophy Exam III

Study Guide is Based on Decartes, James, Hume, and pascal

Hypothesis

A claim offered for belief.

Live hypothesis

a hypothesis that we might actually believe

Dead Hypothesis

A hypothesis we have no real possibility of believing.

Option

A decision between two hypotheses.

Live Option

Both hypotheses are live.

Dead Option

Neither hypothesis is live.

Forced Option

A choice that cannot be avoided

Unforced Option

A choice that can be avoided.

Momentous Option

High stakes, unique opportunity, irreversible outcome.

Trivial Option

Low stakes, repeatable opportunity.

Genuine Option

An option that is live, forced, and momentous.

According to william james when are we justified in choosing based on a passionate grounds

When faced with a genuine option that cannot be decided on rational grounds

Two Epistemological Duties

Know Truth and Avoid Errors

Correspondance Theory

A statement is true if it corresponds with reality.

Pragmatic Theory

A belief is true if it helps us function successfully in the world.

Self-Fulfilling Beliefs

Some beliefs create their own evidence.

what are the two kinds of perception

Impression and ideas

Impression

Direct sensory experiences (e.g., seeing, feeling, hearing, tasting, smelling).

Ideas

Memories or thoughts that are copies of impressions.

what are the two key limitations of the mind

contradiction and combination

contradiction

The mind cannot conceive of contradictions (e.g., imagining a door that is both closed and not closed simultaneously)

Combination

All thoughts are combinations of impressions or copies of impressions.

Sensory Argument

If a person lacks an impression (e.g., a blind person has no impression of color), they also lack the corresponding idea.

Negative argument

No one can form an idea that is not based on an impression. Even concepts like God (infinite wisdom, intelligence, goodness) originate from impressions that we extend without limit.

Cognitive meaning

Words used to convey factual information.

Emotive Meaning

Words used to express attitudes or emotions.

Relations of Ideas(rationalism)

The consequences of rules and definitions

Matters of Fact (Empiricism)

Knowledge based on observation and experience.

Causality

The belief that A causes B (e.g., fire causes heat).

What is true to humes about causation?

causation is not something we can directly perceive; rather, it is a habit of thought based on repeated experiences.

Skepticism

The chain of justification goes on infinitely

Coherentism

 The chain of justification loops onto itself (beliefs justify each other).

Foundationalism

 The chain of justification ends at self-evident beliefs (axioms).

Foundation

Self-justified beliefs (axioms).

Superstructure

 Beliefs that require justification from foundational beliefs

Rationalism

Reason is the primary source of knowledge

Empiricism

Experiance is the primary source of knowledge

When we wager on God’s existence, we put at risk two things

reason and happiness