PHIL 100

Theory of Knowledge / Free Will and Determinism

Review

1.        Explain the difference between object knowledge, know-how and propositional knowledge.  Give examples of each.

2.        What is the difference between knowledge and mere truth belief that Plato identifies in the Theaetetus?

3.        Explain the analysis of propositional knowledge as true justified belief.  Describe a Gettier case and explain how it works as a counterexample to the true justified belief analysis of knowledge.

4.        What is foundationalism?

5.        Descartes uses his “method of doubt” in attempting to provide a rational foundation for knowledge.  Explain this method.

6.        What beliefs are foundational according to Descartes? 

7.        How does Descartes propose to answer the evil demon hypothesis and justify his non-foundational beliefs?  How does this proposed solution fail?

8.        Explain the reliabilist theory of justified belief.

9.        Explain the KK principle.  What sort of counterintuitive result does reliabilism yield regarding the KK principle?

10.    Hume argues that inductive arguments do not provide rational grounds for believing their conclusions.  Explain Hume’s argument against the rationality of induction.

11.    Explain determinism.  Explain the main compatibilist and incompatibilist positions on free will and determinism.

12.    Explain Hume’s version of soft determinism.

13.    Explain the two objections to Hume’s soft determinism discussed in the text.

14.    Explain the weather vane theory of free will.