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Knowledge. The Tripartite Analysis. Conceptual Analysis. To analyze a concept X is to give necessary and sufficient conditions for X (i.e., necessary and sufficient conditions for the concept to apply). Y is a necessary condition for X just in case something is X only if it’s Y.
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Knowledge The Tripartite Analysis
Conceptual Analysis • To analyze a concept X is to give necessary and sufficient conditions for X (i.e., necessary and sufficient conditions for the concept to apply). • Y is a necessary condition for X just in case something is X only if it’s Y. • Y is a sufficient condition for X just in case something is X if it’s Y. • Something is X if and only if (iff) .
Knowledge Knowledge is true judgment with an account.
Knowledge • The Tripartite Analysis: S knows that p iff S has a justified, true, belief that p.
Skepticism I can’t rule out the possibility that I’m being deceived by an evil demon. If (1), then I can’t know anything about the external world. [So] I can’t know anything about the external world.
Skepticism • The Knowledge Thesis: In order to know that something is the case, you first have to rule out all the alternatives. • The Fallabilist Reply: Knowledge is justified true belief and justification does not require certainty, so knowledge doesn’t require certainty either.
Gettier’s Argument Is Justified True Belief Knowledge?
Gettier’sArgument Smith and Jones are applying for a job with a company. Smith has just spoken to the president of the company and learned that Jones will get the job. Smith believes that Jones will get the job, and for good reason. Smith also believes that Jones has ten coins in his pocket. He just saw Jones empty his pocket looking for a quarter, and put ten coins back in the pocket. Smith has been watching him ever since and is sure he neither removed nor added any coins. Smith muses idly to himself, “Well, it looks like the person who will get the job has ten coins in his pocket.”
Gettier’sArgument …suppose Smith gets the job (the company president changed his mind)… Furthermore, it turns out that Smith has ten coins in his pocket (something which Smith has no evidence about). Then “the person who will get the job has ten coins in his pocket.” Yet it is ridiculous to say Smith know this; it is sheer luck that it is true. -Poundstone, Labyrinths of Reason
Gettier’s Argument Smith has a justified, true belief that the person who will get the job has ten coins in his pocket. If (1), then, if the Tripartite Analysis is correct, Smith knows that the person who will get the job has ten coins in his pocket. Smith doesn’t know that the person who will get the job has ten coins in his pocket. [So] The Tripartite Analysis isn’t correct.