Epistemology Flashcards

Flashcards for Epistemology Review

Epistemology

The study of knowledge; the branch of philosophy that investigates the nature, sources, limitations, and validity of knowledge.

Rationalism

A school of thought that believes truth and knowledge are derived from reason alone, independent of sensory input.

A Priori

Knowledge that exists independently of experience.

René Descartes

A main thinker in Rationalism, known for the method of doubt and 'Cogito Ergo Sum.'

Cogito Ergo Sum

"I think, therefore I am" - Descartes' idea that the act of doubting proves the existence of the doubting self.

Empiricism

A school of thought that believes all knowledge originates from sense experience.

Tabula Rasa

The idea that the mind is born as a blank slate, without innate ideas, according to John Locke.

A Posteriori

Knowledge that comes after (and through) experience.

John Locke

A main thinker of Empiricism, known for 'Tabula Rasa' and distinguishing between primary and secondary qualities.

George Berkeley

An Empiricist who criticized Locke and argued that all qualities are dependent on perception; reality exists in minds. No perception = no object.

David Hume

A 'hard empiricist' and skeptic who argued we cannot know anything with certainty beyond impressions and ideas.

Impressions

According to Hume, immediate, vivid sensations.

Ideas

According to Hume, fainter reflections of impressions.

Transcendental Idealism

A school of thought that emphasizes both reason and experience are necessary for knowledge; the mind shapes experience using innate structures.

Immanuel Kant

Key thinker behind Transcendental Idealism.

Phenomenal World

The world as we experience it, shaped by our mind.

Noumenal World

The world as it is in itself, unknowable.

Correspondence Theory of Truth

A statement is true if it corresponds to objective facts or reality.

Coherence Theory of Truth

Truth is determined by the internal consistency of beliefs or statements within a system.

Pragmatic Theory of Truth

Truth is what works or has practical value in a given context.

Realism (Science)

Scientific theories describe actual reality, including unobservable entities (e.g., atoms).

Conceptual Relativism (Science)

Scientific truth is what fits a conceptual framework agreed upon by the scientific community.

Instrumentalism (Science)

Theories are useful tools; a theory is 'true' if it makes accurate predictions and solves problems effectively.

Idols of the Tribe

Human nature’s bias to see order where none exists.

Idols of the Cave

Personal experiences shaping distorted views.

Idols of the Marketplace

Ambiguities in language causing confusion.

Idols of the Theatre

Blind belief in outdated systems or dogmas.