Question 1

Do you believe that knowledge is justified true belief? Why, or why not? In answering this question you should draw on the work of both Gettier and Plato.

Accepted Answer

The question of whether knowledge is justified true belief is a complex one that has been debated by philosophers for centuries. Plato, in his dialogue "Theaetetus," first proposed the idea that knowledge is justified true belief. He argued that in order for something to be considered knowledge, it must be both true and justified. This idea has been influential in shaping our understanding of knowledge.

However, Edmund Gettier challenged this traditional definition of knowledge in his famous paper "Is Justified True Belief Knowledge?" Gettier presented cases in which a person has a justified true belief that turns out to be true purely by luck, rather than through a reliable justification process. These cases demonstrated that having a justified true belief is not always sufficient for knowledge.

In light of Gettier's critique, it seems that knowledge cannot simply be reduced to justified true belief. While justification and truth are important components of knowledge, they may not be enough to guarantee genuine knowledge. Gettier's cases show that there can be instances where someone has a justified true belief, but it is not knowledge because it is based on luck rather than a reliable justification process.

Therefore, I do not believe that knowledge can be solely defined as justified true belief. While Plato's idea has been influential, Gettier's critique has shown that there are limitations to this definition. Knowledge may require more than just justification and truth; it may also require a certain level of reliability or justification process that goes beyond mere luck. In conclusion, while both Plato and Gettier have contributed significantly to our understanding of knowledge, it seems that knowledge is more complex than simply being justified true belief.

Question 2

John Austin's theory of truth rejected

Accepted Answer

A)   Descartes' view of reason and faith
B)   Russell's view of beliefs and facts
C)   Kant's view of space and time
D)   Hegel's view of synthesis and antithesis B

Question 3

Vatsyayana accepted which view of truth?

Accepted Answer

A)   Rationalism
B)   Foundationalism
C)   Correspondence
D)   Pragmatism D

Question 4

Outline the two ways in which God and right acts might be related, according to the Euthyphro dialogue discussed in Chapter 1. If we believe that acts are right because God loves them, how do we know which acts are right acts? How might the problem of interpretation be relevant to the most obvious answer to this question?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Outline the two ways in which God...

Question 5

Wilfred Sellars argued that

Accepted Answer

A)   There were no basic beliefs
B)   That our basic beliefs are foundational
C)   That knowledge is impossible
D)   That knowledge is culturally relative

Question 6

Dharmakirti accepted a foundationalist view of truth.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

The three theories of truth assume that truth is a(n) ____________________ concept.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The three theories of truth assume that...

Question 8

No Eastern philosophers accept the pragmatic view of truth.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Who believed that the attempt to find one characterization of truth that covers every kind of truth was doomed to fail?

Accepted Answer

A)   Putnam
B)   Descartes
C)   Quine
D)   James

Question 10

According to the ____________________ theory of truth a belief is correct if it coheres with other beliefs that we regard as correct.

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the ____________________ theory of truth...

Question 11

Bertrand Russell endorsed the ____________________ theory of truth.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Bertrand Russell endorsed the ____________________ theory of...

Question 12

Assume that Berkeley's idealism is correct. Which theory of truth would best fit with such a universe (a) if God did not exist, (b) if God did exist, and had the properties that Berkeley ascribed to Him? Explain your answer fully.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Assume that Berkeley's idealism is correct. Which...

Question 13

Propositions that we cannot know unless we observe the world are called empirical, or ____________________ propositions.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Propositions that we cannot know unless we...

Question 14

Wilfrid Sellers believed that there were basic beliefs.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

A(n) ____________________ belief is one that we immediately know is true without having to infer it from other belief.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A(n) ____________________ belief is one that we...

Question 16

There are only two major theories of truth.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

A priori propositions are propositions that we can know to be true without having to observe the world.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

The realist view of scientific truth is a version of the ____________________ theory of truth.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The realist view of scientific truth is...

Question 19

A basic belief is one that does not need to be justified by other beliefs.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

How many kinds of particles and forces are recognized in the standard theory of matter?

Accepted Answer

A)   Three kinds of particles, four kinds of forces
B)   Four kinds of forces, three kinds of particles
C)   Three kinds of particles, three kinds of forces
D)   Four kinds of forces, four kinds of forces

Exam 6: Truth

Do you believe that knowledge is justified true belief? Why, or why not? In answering this question you should draw on the work of both Gettier and Plato.

John Austin's theory of truth rejected

Vatsyayana accepted which view of truth?

Wilfred Sellars argued that

Dharmakirti accepted a foundationalist view of truth.

The three theories of truth assume that truth is a(n) ____________________ concept.

No Eastern philosophers accept the pragmatic view of truth.

Who believed that the attempt to find one characterization of truth that covers every kind of truth was doomed to fail?

According to the ____________________ theory of truth a belief is correct if it coheres with other beliefs that we regard as correct.

Bertrand Russell endorsed the ____________________ theory of truth.

Assume that Berkeley's idealism is correct. Which theory of truth would best fit with such a universe (a) if God did not exist, (b) if God did exist, and had the properties that Berkeley ascribed to Him? Explain your answer fully.

Propositions that we cannot know unless we observe the world are called empirical, or ____________________ propositions.

Wilfrid Sellers believed that there were basic beliefs.

A(n) ____________________ belief is one that we immediately know is true without having to infer it from other belief.

There are only two major theories of truth.

A priori propositions are propositions that we can know to be true without having to observe the world.

The realist view of scientific truth is a version of the ____________________ theory of truth.

A basic belief is one that does not need to be justified by other beliefs.

How many kinds of particles and forces are recognized in the standard theory of matter?