PhB Bachelor of Philosophy Bachelor of Philosophy: Knowledge and Skepticism 4

Question 1

What does 'epistemic humility' require of a knower?

Accepted Answer

Recognizing the limits and fallibility of one's own knowledge

Answer

Epistemic humility involves acknowledging that one's knowledge may be limited, biased, or mistaken, without collapsing into full skepticism.

Question 2

The 'new evil demon problem' posed against reliabilism argues that:

Accepted Answer

Cognitively identical subjects under deception can be equally justified despite unreliable faculties

Answer

The problem notes that a demon-deceived twin of a normal person seems equally justified, yet reliabilism would deny their beliefs are justified because their faculties are unreliable.

Question 3

Which philosopher is most closely associated with the view that knowledge is 'true belief plus the right causal connection'?

Accepted Answer

Alvin Goldman

Answer

Alvin Goldman's causal theory of knowledge (1967) requires that the fact that makes the belief true causally produces the belief itself.

Question 4

In social epistemology, 'epistemic injustice' (Miranda Fricker) refers to:

Accepted Answer

Wronging someone specifically in their capacity as a knower

Answer

Fricker identifies two forms: testimonial injustice (deflated credibility due to prejudice) and hermeneutical injustice (gaps in collective interpretive resources that harm marginalized groups).

Question 5

What is the 'problem of the criterion' as discussed by Roderick Chisholm?

Accepted Answer

Whether to start with a method or instances of knowledge when building epistemology

Answer

Chisholm noted that to know what we know, we need a criterion, but to adopt a criterion, we need to know which instances are genuine — creating a circular dilemma.

PhB Bachelor of Philosophy Practice Test

PhB Bachelor of Philosophy Practice Test

PhB Bachelor of Philosophy Bachelor of Philosophy: Knowledge and Skepticism 4