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Epistemology: the study of the nature, source, limits, & justification of knowledge

Epistemology: the study of the nature, source, limits, & justification of knowledge. Rationalism : we truly know only that of which we are certain. Since sense experience cannot guarantee certainty, reason alone must be the means for getting knowledge

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Epistemology: the study of the nature, source, limits, & justification of knowledge

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  1. Epistemology: the study of the nature, source, limits, & justification of knowledge • Rationalism: we truly know only that of which we are certain. Since sense experience cannot guarantee certainty, reason alone must be the means for getting knowledge • Real knowledge about ourselves and the world is a priori (prior to and independent of experience). “Knowledge” gained from sense experience (a posteriori) is guaranteed only by appeal to reason

  2. Rationalism: Sense Experience Does Not Provide Knowledge Shankara: we correct our experiences of self and world (e.g., hallucinations, sense perceptions) by knowing the oneness of ultimate reality (Brahman) • Descartes: sense experiences are often wrong; I might be wrong about whether I have a body or if there is a world apart from my imagination (it may be a dream), and even whether my reasoning abilities (e.g., 2+3=5) can be trusted (evil genie) (788-822)

  3. Objectionsto Descartes’ Method of Doubt • Even if some sense experiences are mistaken, that is no reason to doubt (even hypothetically) all of them • Limiting knowledge only to what we know with certainty is too restrictive: we often know things a posteriori (i.e., based on experience), not on indubitable foundations • If we doubt everything, we must also doubt whether we are truly doubting—which requires us to assume the existence of a public world of language users

  4. Descartes’ Escape from Doubt • I cannot doubt that I am doubting (thinking). All other knowledge is based on the undoubtable foundation that I exist: I think, therefore I exist (cogito ergo sum) • I know I exist imperfectly only by first knowing perfect existence (God); and as a perfect being, God would not deceive me or allow me to be deceived when I know something (e.g., wax) clearly and distinctly—that is, as an intelligible (e.g., mathematical) object

  5. Innate Ideas: knowledge of ideas or principles is possible only if they are inborn • Plato: our knowledge of certain propositions is based on remembering truths acquired before our birth • Leibniz: our recognition of ideas and truths is based on innate dispositions of the mind • Jainism: past unethical behavior blinds us to our innate knowledge of all things

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