Scepticism in A Level Epistemology

These flashcards cover key concepts related to scepticism in epistemology, including definitions of different types of scepticism, philosophical responses, and significant objections.

What is the difference between philosophical scepticism and normal incredulity?

Normal incredulity is ordinary doubt about a specific claim, while philosophical scepticism often involves doubt about whole ways of knowing, not in response to specific circumstance

Define local scepticism.

Local scepticism is doubt about a particular claim or area of knowledge, such as ethical knowledge.

What is global scepticism?

Global scepticism is doubt about all knowledge.

Name four examples of global scepticism.

brain in a vat, simulation thesis, Descartes' evil demon, or The Matrix.

What is the purpose of philosophical scepticism?

It challenges theories of knowledge and prompts examination on how knowledge is possible despite sceptical scenarios.

What is Descartes' response to scepticism?

The cogito → Clear and distinct ideas are all true as that’s what makes the cogito true → prove God, who isn’t a deceiver

What is the Cartesian circle?

It objects to Descartes' reasoning that uses clear and distinct ideas to prove God exists, then claims these ideas are trustworthy because God is no deceiver.

What knowledge sources do empiricists accept?

Empiricists accept a priori knowledge of analytic propositions, a posteriori knowledge of synthetic propositions about the external world, and knowledge of our own minds.

How do John Locke and Bertrand Russell justify the existence of the external world?

They argue it is the best explanation of our experiences.

What is George Berkeley's view on appearance and reality?

He argues that there is no distinction; appearance is reality.

What is an objection to Locke and Russell's view?

It suggests that the external world remains a hypothesis, which could be explained by the brain in a vat scenario.

What does reliabilism assert about knowledge?

Reliabilism claims that knowledge is true belief produced by a reliable method, not requiring justification, so you have knowledge so long as you aren’t in a sceptical scenario 

What is an objection to reliabilism?

One objection asks how one can know they are not a brain in a vat, while the response is that knowledge doesn't require knowing you know.

What is the New Evil Demon objection to reliabilism?

It questions what is good about the brain in a vat's beliefs- they are being a responsible believer

How would a reliabilist respond to the new evil demon problem

the beliefs appear good as the brain is doing what would normally be reliable