Frank Brosell
Theory of Knowledge
2-12-2013
Set 1
1. Descartes claims that even basic arithmetic and geometry can fall under a suspicion
of falsity.
2. Descartes displays the ability to persuade himself that he is asleep.
3. At the end, Descartes seeks action, not knowledge.
4. If Descartes were to desire to discover anything certain, he will not refrain from
assenting to that which is manifestly false.
5. It is clear that Deity has created Descartes to be subject to constant deception.
Frank Brosell
Theory of Knowledge
2-12-2013
Set 1 Answers
1. Descartes claims that even basic arithmetic and geometry can fall under a suspicion
of falsity.
False. “…for whether I am awake or dreaming, it remains true that two and three
make five, and that a square has but four sides; nor does it seem possible that truths
so apparent can ever fall under suspicion of falsity.” (Meditation I, 8)
2. Descartes displays the ability to persuade himself that he is asleep.
False. “…in amazement I almost persuade myself that I am now dreaming.”
(Meditation I, 5)
3. At the end, Descartes seeks action, not knowledge.
False. “…the end I now seek is not action but knowledge.” (Meditiation I, 11)
4. If Descartes were to desire to discover anything certain, he will not refrain from
assenting to that which is manifestly false.
False. “…if I desire to discover anything certain, I ought not the less carefully to
refrain from assenting to those same opinions than to what might be shown to be
manifestly false.” (Meditation I, 10)
5. It is clear that Deity has permitted Descartes to be created to be subject to
deception.
To be discussed in class?
Loc Sinclaire
Set #1
1. Many contemporary epistemologists accepted and responded to Gettier’s
problem by seeking a fourth condition to the JTB.
2. Descartes believes that truth and certainty gained through observations, or
empirical senses, are completely trustworthy.
3. It is possible to imagine something that you have never experienced before.
4. Descartes believes that even ideas that depend on composite objects, such as Physics
and Astronomy, are somewhat certain as much as Mathematics is.
5. Gettier tries to prove that the JTB is false.
Loc Sinclaire
Set #1 Answers
1. Many contemporary epistemologists accepted and responded to Gettier’s
problem by seeking a fourth condition to the JTB.
True. “The most common direction for this sort of response to take is…finding some
fourth condition--a "no-Gettier-problem" condition--which, when added to the
conditions of justification, truth, and belief, will yield a set of necessary and
jointly sufficient conditions.”
(http://www.infomutt.com/g/ge/gettier_problem.html) One condition which
was introduced was the “no false premise” condition.
2. Descartes believes that truth and certainty gained through observations, or
empirical senses, are completely trustworthy.
False. Descartes argues that many of his beliefs that he has held true and
and certain were from his senses, but the senses are not completely trustworthy.
He also states that it is best not to trust these senses absolutely, even if the
the senses have been wrong just once. (Descartes First Meditation Paragraph 3)
3. It is possible to imagine something that you have never experienced before.
False. Even if you believe you have imagined something completely new and
original, it must have come from an idea or object that has already been widely
acknowledged. An example would be a mythical creature such as the centaur.
You must know what a human and a horse look like to create a centaur.
Descartes mentions that “…painters themselves, even when they study to
represent sirens and satyrs by forms the most fantastic and extraordinary, cannot
bestow upon them natures absolutely new, but can only make a certain medley
of the members of different animals…”
(Descartes’s First Meditation Paragraph 6)
4. Descartes believes that even ideas that depend on composite objects, such as Physics
and Astronomy, are somewhat certain as much as is Mathematics.
True. Descartes argues that even “…awake or dreaming, it remains true that two and
three make five…” (Descartes’s First Meditation Paragraph 8)
5. Gettier tries to prove that the JTB is false.
False. Gettier uses the JTB to prove that the conditions for knowledge in the JTB are not
enough to count as knowledge. He does not mention anything of falsity in regards to the
JTB. (http://www.ditext.com/gettier/gettier.html)
Cole Hungerle
Philosophy 165
Set 1
1. The standard account of knowledge is having at least two of three conditions;
truth, belief, and justification.
2. Edmund Gettier has A priori knowledge.
3. Descartes wants to remember everything he was told in the past so he can add
more to his foundation of sciences.
4. Elliot Sober argues that the JTB theory is not sufficient for knowledge.
5. Descartes’ first sentence in his first meditation claims he was very gullible and
immature, that is why he accepted many false opinions.
Cole Hungerle
Philosophy 165
Set 1
1. The standard account of knowledge is having at least two of three conditions;
truth, belief, and justification.
False. Each of these 3 conditions is held to be necessary for knowledge
(knowledge handout).
2. Edmund Gettier has A priori knowledge.
False. I believe Edmund Gettier has A priori knowledge because of his vague
counter-example to the JTB theory but I cannot justify it because I do not
know if it is exactly true (knowledge handout & p.19 Pojman)
3. Descartes wants to remember everything he was told in the past so he can add
more to his foundation of sciences.
False. Rene Descartes became aware that he had accepted many false opinions
for true. He is doing the opposite and trying to forget the false
information and start over with new knowledge (Descartes first meditation).
4. Elliot Sober argues that the JTB theory is not sufficient for knowledge.
True. Elliot does argue that the JTB theory is not sufficient for knowledge
(knowledge handout).
5. Descartes’ first sentence in his first meditation claims he was very gullible and
immature, that is why he accepted many false opinions.
False. Descartes only says he had become aware that he accepted some false
opinions in his youth (Descartes first meditation).
Caitlyn Bagby
Philosophy 165
Professor Ring
Set 1
1. According to Descartes, as soon as we think that we correctly perceive
something, we are spontaneously convinced that it is true.
2. Gettier believed that from Justified True Belief comes knowledge.
3. Doubtful conclusions can not lead to truths.
4. Socrates saw himself as a philosophical midwife.
5. If something is undoubtable it is necessarily true.
Caitlyn Bagby
Philosophy 165
Professor Ring
Set 1
1. According to Descartes, as soon as we think that we correctly perceive
something, we are spontaneously convinced that it is true.
True. (Q 11, Newman, Descartes’ Epistemology, Section 1.1, par. 3)
2. Gettier believed that from Justified True Belief comes knowledge.
False. (Q 6, The Analysis of Knowledge, Section 3)
3. Doubtful conclusions can not lead to truths.
False. (Lecture 2/7) Doubt does not mean it is right or wrong, it simply means
unsure. If someone guesses there are 2,135 jelly beans in a jar they can doubt
themselves and yet still be correct in the end.
4. Socrates saw himself as a philosophical midwife.
True. (Lecture1/29)
5. If something is undoubtable it is necessarily true.
True. (Lecture 2/7)
Jessica Wilson
Dr. Ring
Phil A165
02/12/13
Set #1 Questions
1.
After 1963, the concept of knowledge was defined as more or less true,
justified belief.
2.
Descartes claims outright that we may doubt in general of all things, and
especially of mental objects.
3.
According to Descartes, we have knowledge of certain metaphysical truths
through intuition and deductive reasoning.
4.
Classical foundationalists would agree that deductive reasoning preserves
truth, and no other method guarantees knowledge.
5.
Descartes reaches the conclusion that although you may be dreaming, an evil
genius could be tricking you, or you could simply be mistaken, normally, when you
seem to see a tree, you really do see one.
Jessica Wilson
Dr. Ring; Phil A165
02/12/13
Set #1 Answers
1.
After 1963, the concept of knowledge was defined as more or less true,
justified belief.
False. Edmund Gettier’s article on the definition of knowledge was published in
1963, featuring just a few counterexamples to the traditional definition of
knowledge, and epistemology has never been the same. (Pojman, Pp. 81-82)
2.
Descartes claims outright that we may doubt in general of all things, and
especially of mental objects.
False. He actually believed quite the opposite. “In The First Meditation I expound
the grounds on which we may doubt in general of all things, and especially of
material objects, so long at least, as we have no other foundations for the sciences
than those we have hitherto possessed.” (Descartes, Synopsis Para. 1)
3.
According to Descartes, we have knowledge of certain metaphysical truths
through intuition and deductive reasoning.
False. Intuition alone is required for knowledge of said certain metaphysical truths.
“That there must be as much reality in the total cause as in the effectual proposition
enabled him [Descartes] to deduce the existence of a perfect divine being, who in
turn guaranteed the veracity of our empirical beliefs.” (Pojman, P. 100)
4.
Classical foundationalists would agree that deductive reasoning preserves
truth, and no other method guarantees knowledge.
True. Although this idea is still accepted as true, “the trend has been for
foundationalists to become more moderate, dropping the requirement that properly
basic beliefs must be infallible or incorrigible.” Many would rather accept the
possibilities of fallibilism, “[The idea] that any of our basic beliefs could turn out to
be false.” (Pojman, P. 105)
5.
Descartes reaches the conclusion that although you may be dreaming, an evil
genius could be tricking you, or you could simply be mistaken, normally, when one
seems to see a tree, one really does see one.
True. Descartes trusted that his God was not a deceiver, and that he could usually
trust his sense pertaining to the world around him. “Only under abnormal
circumstances will I be deceived about such matters.” (Pojman, P. 103
Stephan Nissen
Dr. Ring
Philosophy 165
Set 1
1. Having Justified True Belief is sufficient enough to have knowledge.
2. By adding in a defeasibility condition, you can counter Gettier’s
counterexample.
3. Your dreams can easily be recognizable as a dream.
4. In order to find knowledge, Descartes says he must throw away any beliefs that
aren’t certain or indubitable.
5. By the “Correspondence Theory of Truth”, snow is water if and only if snow
is water.
Stephan Nissen
Dr. Ring
Philosophy 165
Set 1answers
1. Having Justified True Belief is sufficient enough to have knowledge.
False. Gettier gives counterexamples on how you can have JTB and still
not have knowledge. (JTB HO)
2. By adding in a defeasibility condition, you can counter Gettier’s
counterexample.
False. By adding in a defeasibility condition, you are in turn ruling out
legitimate cases of knowledge. (5th to last paragraph of the Gettier problem)
3. Your dreams can easily be recognizable as a dream.
False. In Descartes first mediation he describes times where he could
easily tell the difference between reality and the dream world but
other times where his dreams are so vivid that it’s just like reality.
(Paragraph 5, 1st Meditation)
4. In order to find knowledge, Descartes says he must throw away any beliefs that
aren’t certain or indubitable.
True. In Descartes’ first mediation he says if a belief isn’t certain and
indubitable, then it can’t be considered knowledge. (1st meditation, Para. 2)
5. By the “Correspondence Theory of Truth”, snow is water if and only if snow
is water.
True. A belief is true if it asserts a proposition that corresponds to facts.
Thus making the statement snow is water true because snow is comprised
of water. (Pojman pp. 4-7)
Madison Smith
Philosophy A165
Set 1 Questions
1. In Descartes’ first Meditation he states that at the height of truth and
certainty of your principle our senses often times have misled us to have
been once deceived.
2. In the case of Gettier, he believes in his counter-example that Smith has a
justified true belief, but intuitively he does not have knowledge.
3. According to the JTB theory it is not a satisfactory account of knowledge
since the three conditions have been satisfied but however not jointly
entailed to have knowledge.
4. Knowledge by Acquaintance and Propositional Knowledge are the two
types of knowledge.
5. A belief is true if it asserts a proposition that corresponds to facts.
Madison Smith
Philosophy A165
Set 1 Answers
1. In Descartes’ first Meditation he states that at the height of truth and
certainty of your principle our senses often times have misled us to have been once
deceived.
True. In Descartes’ meditation he states that our senses have given certainty but
also by being deceived and that has mislead us. Whether our senses have deceived
us with minute objects to beyond reach our different judgment to each observation
can be deceived. (Descartes’ Meditation 1)
2. In the case of Gettier, he believes in his counter-example that Smith has a
justified true belief, but intuitively he does not have knowledge.
True. The three conditions that were stated in Gettier’s counter-example, Smith’s
boss is reliable, Smith counted the number of coins and the statement a man will get
the job if he has the same number of coins that Smith counted in his pocket. All
these statements were in fact each true statements but however they didn’t jointly
entailed that Smith has knowledge. (Pojman p. 2)
3.
According to the JTB theory necessary condition and sufficient condition
entailed to have knowledge.
True. Knowledge is not acquired by mere accidently stumbling upon the truth or by
luck. Necessary is when you need the second first for you to have the first one. N is
a necessary condition for P, if P then N. Sufficient is enough/guaranteed so that S is
a sufficient condition for P, if S then P. (Lecture Notes)
4.
Knowledge by Acquaintance and Propositional Knowledge are the only two
types of knowledge.
False. There are three types ok knowledge. Knowledge by Acquaintance,
Competence Knowledge and Propositional Knowledge. (Pojman 2)
5.
A belief is true if it asserts a proposition that corresponds to facts.
True. All truth is the relationship between the sentence and the various facts that
are stated that verify or confirm the propositions. (Pojman 4)
Set 1
Michael Morrison
The Theory of Knowledge
1.
During Descartes First Meditation, he acknowledges that many of his beliefs
that he held to be true are false and decides to abolish all his past beliefs.
2.
In the Lottery Counterexample, ninety-nine-percent chance is sufficient for
JTB.
3.
Knowledge must be non-accidental.
4.
If knowledge just is justified true belief, then there cannot be any cases of
justified true belief that are not also cases of knowledge.
5.
Epistemology is the science of knowing.
Set 1 Answers
Michael Morrison
The Theory of Knowledge
1.
During Descartes First Meditation, he acknowledges that many of his beliefs
that he held to be true are false and decides to abolish all his past beliefs.
False. “it will not be necessary for me to show that the wholeof these are false”
(Descartes First Meditation Paragraph 2). Even though Descartes world appears to
be flipped upside-down, philosophically speaking, he realizes that some of his false
beliefs may still be true and therefore decides not to abolish all of his beliefs.
2.
In the Lottery Counterexample, ninety-nine-percent chance is sufficient for
JTB.
False. Ninety-nine-percent chance is not enough evidence to show knowledge
because there is still a one-percent margin for error (Gettier Counter Example
Handout).
3.
Knowledge must be non-accidental.
True. When someone knows something it must be in some way guaranteed that his
or her mind is related to the information believed in an appropriate manner to count
as knowledge (Gettier Counter-example Handout).
4.
If knowledge just is justified true belief, then there cannot be any cases of
justified true belief that are not also cases of knowledge
True. Gettier claims that his counterexamples are cases of justified true belief
without being cases of knowledge (Other Responses to Gettier, Infomutt.com).
5.
Epistemology is the science of knowing.
True. The Theory of Knowledge, or epistemology, inquires into the nature of
knowledge and justification of belief (Pojman, 1).
Julian Baez
Dr. Ring
Theory of Knowledge
2/12/13
True/False Questions
1. Descartes believed that in order to determine the possibility of doubt in his
beliefs, he would need to attack the principles of each of his beliefs individually.
2. Descartes believed that even if all that we know to be true in our lives are just
illusions, such as the possession of hands and feet, these concepts must have
necessarily been formed from some real base from which to get these ideas.
3. One reason that having justified true belief is not an adequate condition for
having knowledge is that one may correctly predict the outcome of a situation
accidentally or coincidentally.
4. If there are no false premises in an argument, even if those premises are fully
justified, then one can say that one has knowledge through that argument.
5. According to Descartes, although most aspects of life can be argued to simply be
part of a possible illusion or dream, there are some things that are indubitably true,
such as the idea that two plus three equals five.
Julian Baez
Theory of Knowledge
Dr. Ring
2/12/13
Set 1 True/False Answers
1. Descartes believed that in order to determine the possibility of doubt in his
beliefs, he would need to attack the principles of each of his beliefs individually.
False: Descartes believed that dealing with each belief individually would be
not only pointless, but also overly strenuous, and that he should therefore attack the
common principles of his beliefs as a whole. (Descartes First Meditation, Paragraph
2)
2. Descartes believed that even if all that we know to be true in our lives are just
illusions, such as the possession of hands and feet, these concepts must have
necessarily been formed from some real base from which to get these ideas.
True: Descartes proposed that although the possibility exists that the life that we
think we know is all part of a dream or illusion, the ideas that this life is founded
upon, such as what things look like, must be based on some things that truly exist.
3. One reason that having justified true belief is not an adequate condition for
having knowledge is that one may correctly predict the outcome of a situation
accidentally or coincidentally.
True: One may have good reason to believe that one knows something, and
one’s prediction may ultimately be true, but this is not sufficient for saying that one
has knowledge because one could have guessed correctly by pure coincidence.
There is always the possibility that unknown factors in the proposition may cause
one’s guess to be true, but that fact that these factors are unknown means that the
guesser did not know that he would be right (Justified True Belief).
4. If there are no false premises in an argument, even if those premises are fully
justified, then one can say that one has knowledge through that argument.
False: Similarly to the last question, one can have beliefs that are justified
based on all true premises but can end up being correct about these beliefs only by
pure coincidence or accident. As seen in Gettier’s example, one can have reason to
believe that someone is in the room based on a look-alike dummy, and that person
may in fact be in the room, but that does not mean that one knew that the person
was in the room. (Gettier)
5. According to Descartes, although most aspects of life can be argued to simply be
part of a possible illusion or dream, there are some things that are indubitably true,
such as the idea that two plus three equals five.
False: Although Descartes hypothesizes about this possibility, he later opens
up the idea that even the mathematical logic behind “two plus three equals five”
may be, in itself, an illusion or falsity that is part of a dream.
Don Nguyen
Theory of Knowledge
Set 1
1. Its trivial for humans to be infallible and therefore the incorrigibility theory
states that we cannot be wrong.
2. Even if you’re being tricked by an evil genius to fool you into thinking you don’t
exist, but this is invalid as thinking is proving you exist.
3. Socrates comes up with the famous line “I am thinking, therefore I exist”.
4. The Justified true belief theory proves S knows P IFF, P is true, S believes that P,
and S is justified in believing that P. Using logic and many example none was able
to counter and therefore making this statement true.
5. According to the Correspondence Theory of Truth, “the grass is green” is true if
and only if the grass is green.
Don Nguyen
Theory of Knowledge
Set 1 Answers
1. Its trivial for humans to be infallible and therefore the incorrigibility theory
states that we cannot be wrong.
True. Infallible and incorrigibility is something you cannot be correct about or
found to be wrong. (Lecture)
2. Even if you’re being tricked by an evil genius to fool you into thinking you don’t
exist, but this is invalid as thinking is proving you exist.
True. Descartes debate his existence, but regardless of how anything is deceiving
you, Descartes said that if he is conscious about it, then he is something. (Descartes
2nd Meditation, Paragraph 3)
3. Socrates comes up with the famous line “I am thinking, therefore I exist”.
False. Rene Descartes wrote the famous line which translate from Cogito ergo sum.
(Lecture)
4. The Justified true belief theory proves S knows P IFF, P is true, S believes that P,
and S is justified in believing that P. Using logic and many example none was able
to counter and therefore making this statement true.
False. According to Gettier, the JTB was refuted each of which involve (or at least
intuitively seem to involve) instances of justified true belief that nonetheless fail to
be instances of knowledge. (What Is Epistemology? by Keith DeRose)
5. According to the Correspondence Theory of Truth, “the grass is green” is true if
and only if the grass is green.
True. The Correspondence Theory of Truth is refers to the relationship between a
proposition and the facts or states of affairs in reality that verify or confirm the
propositions. (Pojman, p. 4)
Michael A. Parra
Philosophy 165 T/TH
Set 1
1. Fred holds a justified true belief that the lights are on. Fred’s belief that
the lights are on does not satisfy Gettier’s understanding of knowledge.
2. Possible falsity and falsity is the same.
3. Self contradictory things are not necessarily false.
4. Descartes believed that material objects are to be doubted however mental
objects are not doubtable.
5. Descartes was looking to establish a temporary foundation in knowledge
in order to move forward with his meditations.
Michael A. Parra
Philosophy 165
Set 1 Answers
1. Fred holds a justified true belief that the lights are on. Fred’s belief that
the lights are on does not satisfy Gettier’s understanding of knowledge.
True. A Justified True Belief does not qualify as knowledge to Gettier.
(Is Justified True Belief Knowledge? - Gettier)
2. Possible falsity and falsity is the same.
False. Something that is possibly false, possible falsity, does not
necessarily need to be false, whereas something that is false must be
false. (Lecture notes on Descartes First Meditation 2/7/13)
3. Self contradictory things are not necessarily false.
False. Self contradictory things are necessarily false. Ex. P cannot be
both P and not P. ( Lecture notes on Descartes First Meditation 2/7/13)
4. Descartes believed that material objects are to be doubted however mental
objects are not doubtable.
True. Descartes believed that all things material were possibly false,
however mental objects could not be possibly false to oneself. ( Lecture
notes on Descartes First Meditation 2/7/13 and Descartes First
Meditation)
5. Descartes was looking to establish a temporary foundation in knowledge
in order to move forward with his meditations.
False. Descartes was attempting to establish a permanent foundation for
knowledge with Meditation 1, so that all other things he would be based
on certainty. (Descartes Meditation 1)
Alex Durán
Phil A165
12 February 2013
Set 1
1. Descartes proposes to overthrow his former opinions by challenging
foundational beliefs.
2. The “Conclusive Reasons” solution to the Gettier problem holds that Justified
True Belief is only knowledge when it isn’t based on false beliefs.
3. The Coherence Theory of Truth holds that a belief is true if it is useful or
expedient.
4. Empiricists, like John Locke and David Hume, hold that knowledge is a
priori and exists independently of sense experience.
5. Classical foundationalism holds that all knowledge must rest upon a
foundation of infallible, noninferential knowledge.
Alex Durán
Phil A165
12 February 2013
Set 1 Answers
1. Descartes proposes to overthrow his former opinions by challenging
foundational beliefs.
True. In his First Meditation Descartes states that, “as the removal from
below of the foundation necessarily involves the downfall of the whole
edifice, I will at once approach the criticism of the principles on which all
my former beliefs rested” (“Meditation 1” par. 2).
2. The “Conclusive Reasons” solution to the Gettier problem holds that Justified
True Belief is only knowledge when it isn’t based on false beliefs.
False. The Conclusive Reasons solution holds that a Justified True Belief is
only knowledge, only if the person who holds that belief does so for a reason
that necessitates the Justified True Belief. More simply stated, the belief is
only knowledge, if it is held for reasons that conclusively lead to that belief
(Pojman pp. 84-85).
3. The Coherence Theory of Truth holds that a belief is true if it is useful or
expedient.
False. The Coherence Theory of Truth holds that “a proposition or belief is
true to say it coheres with a system of other propositions or beliefs.” The
description in the above statement better describes the Pragmatic Theory of
Truth (Pojman pp. 7-8).
4. Empiricists, like John Locke and David Hume, hold that knowledge is a
priori and exists independently of sense experience.
False. Empiricists hold that knowledge is a posteriori and is a product of
evidence accumulated through sense experience. It is Plato and other
Rationalists who hold that knowledge is a priori (Pojman pp. 16-19).
5. Classical foundationalism holds that all knowledge must rest upon a
foundation of infallible noninferential knowledge.
True. Classical Foundationalism seeks to establish properly basic beliefs,
from which one can arrive at non-basic beliefs (Pojman pp. 101-102).
Maribel Muro
Philosophy 165
11 February 2013
Set 1
1.
A belief that turns out to be true means that one intuitively has knowledge of
the belief.
2.
Sober’s counter-examples prove that knowledge can be accidental.
3.
Descartes states that rather than analyze each of his beliefs individually, he
would remove the principles which all his former beliefs rested on.
4.
Descartes assumed that all of his personal beliefs were false.
5.
According to Descartes, illusions can be created by a malignant, deceitful
demon, so all senses lose credibility.
Maribel Muro
Philosophy 165
11 February 2013
Set 1 Answers
1.
A belief that turns out to be true means that one intuitively has knowledge of
the belief.
a.
False. Gettier provides a counter-example where fulfilling the three
conditions of JTB does not necessarily mean one has knowledge. The belief can be
mere causality. In his counter-example of Smith receiving a promotion, the “three
conditions have been satisfied but have not jointly entailed that Smith has
knowledge” (Knowledge Handout, paragraph 10)
2.
Sober’s counter-examples prove that knowledge can be accidental.
a.
False. Elliot provides two counter examples to JTB: the lottery counterexample and the Big Ben example. Both prove that there can be several other
situations where JTB is not enough to show that something is knowledge.
(Knowledge Handout, paragraphs 9-11)
3.
Descartes states that rather than analyze each of his beliefs individually, he
would remove the principles which all his former beliefs rested on.
a.
True. If Descartes individually analyzed each of his beliefs individually, it
would be an “endless labor”. Instead, he will just “overthrow” all of his former
opinions. (Mediation I, paragraph 1)
4.
Descartes assumed that all of his personal beliefs were false.
a.
False. Descartes did not assume that all of his former beliefs were false. He
would have to prove each of these beliefs to be false. He was not looking for truth,
but rather for what cannot be doubted. If the belief had any doubt present, then it
became not true. (Mediation I, paragraph 2)
5.
According to Descartes, illusions can be created by a malignant, deceitful
demon, so all senses lose credibility.
a.
True. Descartes proposes that although the senses give us our perception of
reality, there is a possibility that an evil deceiver exists, falsely giving us illusions
so real that we are misled. At times when we dream, we are not aware that we are
dreaming, for our dream is so realistic. We may be absolutely unaware of our
illusions. (Mediation I, paragraph 12)
Morgan Smith
Philosophy 165 T/TH 11:10
Dr. Ring
2/10/13
Set 1
1. According to Gettier, if you have satisfied all three conditions of the
JTB then you have knowledge.
2. Elliot Sober argues that JTB is not sufficient for knowledge by stating
you can have a justified true belief that can be incorrect.
3. Truth can be obtained entirely through ones senses and still have
falsehood.
4. All propositional knowledge is gained consciously by perceptual
knowledge.
5. Having knowledge means that you cannot doubt your reasoning.
Morgan Smith
Dr. Ring
Philosophy 165 T/TH 11:10
2/10/13
Set 1
1. According to Gettier, if you have satisfied all three conditions of the
JTB then you have knowledge.
False. Gettier argues that when you have justification, you can have
fallible and infallible support. You can have reliable beliefs but it is
not impossible to be wrong. (Class Lecture)
2. Elliot Sober argues that JTB is not sufficient for knowledge by stating
you can have a justified true belief that can be incorrect.
True. You can have a justified true belief that can be not always
correct. For example the Big Ben clock tower in London, many rely
on this clock for the accurate time. The clock could possibly stop for
12 hours and you could accidently look up at that that exact time to
see that it was 3:00pm as you anticipated. Your belief can be correct
from luck rather than the JTB. (Knowledge Handout)
3. Truth can be obtained entirely through ones senses and still have
falsehood.
True. Descartes states in the first Meditation that everything we
accept to be true is through our senses. However we can be mislead
by our senses questioning our certainly and confidence. (Meditation
I par. 3)
4. All propositional knowledge is gained consciously by perceptual
knowledge.
True. To experience knowledge one must have a conscious of
properties or ideas to be based on so we can depend on them.
Through consciousness, one can gain knowledge through
acquaintances. (Pojman p 3)
5. Having knowledge means that you cannot doubt your reasoning.
True. The method of doubt is for it possibly to be false. In Descartes’
first meditation, he tries to doubt material objects to possibly
proven to be false without saying it is true. (Class Lecture)
Alex Shakas
Epistemology
Set 1
1. Knowing how to speak English is an example of knowledge by acquaintance.
2. According to Descartes’ first meditation the senses never mislead us.
3. According to Descartes first meditation, basic truths, such as the number of sides in
a square and the sum of two and three being five can never be questioned regardless
of our conscious state.
4. In Descartes’ first meditation, he questions the infinite goodness of the Deity
regarding the possible deception it may be imposing on him.
5. Knowing the capitol of California is Sacramento is an example of propositional
knowledge.
Alex Shakas
Set 1 - Answers
1. Knowing how to speak English is an example of knowledge by acquaintance.
False. Knowing how to speak English is an example of competence knowledge.
“Competence knowledge involves an ability to perform a skill and may be done
consciously or unconsciously.” (Pojman p. 4)
2. According to Descartes’ first meditation the senses never mislead us.
False. Descartes professes that on occasion the senses can mislead us. “But it may
be said, perhaps, that, although the senses occasionally mislead us respecting
minute objects, and such as are so far removed from us as to be beyond the reach of
close reservation, there are yet many other of their informations, of the truth which
it is manifestly impossible to doubt….” (Meditation 1 p.4)
3. According to Descartes first meditation basic truths such as the number of sides
in a square and the sum of two and three being five can never be questioned
regardless of our conscious state.
True. “…For whether I am awake or dreaming, it remains true that two and three
make five, and that a square has four sides; nor does it seem possible that truths so
apparent can ever fall under suspicion of falsity.” (First meditation p. 8)
4. In Descartes’ first meditation, he questions the infinite goodness of the Deity
regarding the possible deception it may be imposing on him.
True. “But perhaps Deity has not been willing that I should be thus deceived, for he
is said to be supremely good. If however, it were repugnant to the goodness of the
Deity to have created me subject to constant deception, it would seem likewise to be
contrary to his goodness to allow me to be occasionally deceived…”. (First
Meditation, p. 9)
5. Knowing the capitol of California is Sacramento is an example of propositional
knowledge.
True. “Propositions have truth value; that is, they are true or false. They are
objects of propositional knowledge.” (Pojman, p. 5)
Vincent Dang
Philosophy 165 Theory Of Knowledge
Professor Dring
February 12th, 2013
Set One Questions
1. Mr. Smith is on a game show. The host offers him three doors. There is the left,
middle, and right door. And behind one door is a brand new car. And the other two
are goats. Mr. Smith chooses the left door, and the host reveals the door to the right.
The right door opens and a goat is revealed. The host asks if Mr. Smith is sure about
the left door. Mr. Smith chooses the middle door and wins a brand new car. True or
False?
2. Frank drinks coffee every morning at a diner. He sees Bill there every morning eating
eggs and bacon. One morning Bill has a cardiac arrest and dies. Frank, a doctor,
knows the bacon has clogged his arteries even though Bill is an extremely fit body
builder. True or False?
3. When one intends to eliminate subject A, but eliminates subject B in the attempt, one is
guilty of subject B. True or False?
4. Descartes claimed that the alphabet does not have to follow a certain order such as A B
C … and so forth.
5. Vincent goes to a poker table in Las Vegas. Knowing it was his first time playing
poker, he will lose all of his gambling money. And after two drinks and a half, he was
stock broke. True or False?
Vincent Dang
Philosophy 165 Theory Of Knowledge
Professor Dring
February 12th, 2013
Set 1 Answers
1. Mr. Smith is on a game show. The host offers him three doors. There is the left,
middle, and right door. And behind one door is a brand new car. And the other two
are goats. Mr. Smith chooses the left door, and the host reveals the door to the right.
The right door opens and a goat is revealed. The host ask if Mr. Smith is sure about
the left door. Mr. Smith chooses the middle door and wins a brand new car. True or
False?
True. Through the curious case of the Monty Hall.
2. Frank drinks coffee every morning at a diner. He sees Bill there every morning eating
eggs and bacon. One morning Bill has a cardiac arrest and dies. Frank, a doctor,
knows the bacon has clogged his arteries even though Bill is an extremely fit body
builder. True or False?
True. Case 1 on the “Gettier Problem.”
3. When one intends to eliminate subject A, but eliminates subject B in the attempt, one is
guilty of subject B. True or False?
False. Case 1 on the “Gettier Problem.”
4. Descartes claimed that the alphabet does not have to follow a certain order such as A B
C … and so forth. True or False?
False. In paragraph 8, he explains that two plus three is five and is “certain and
indubitable.”
5. Vincent goes to a poker table in Las Vegas. Knowing it was his first time playing
poker, he will lose all of his gambling money. And after two drinks and a half, he was
stock broke. True or False?
False. The counter example of the Lottery.
[THESE ARE NOT TRUE/FALSE QUESTIONS. SIMPLIFY THE SENTENCE
AND FOCUS IN ON JUST ONE POINT. DON’T TELL A STORY. SAY THINGS
LIKE: “In the three doors problem, the contestant would always improve her chances
of winning if she switched doors after the host opens an empty one.”
A good exercise would be to re-write all of the above situations into a single true/false
question.
Second, some of the questions above discuss issues not directly considered in this
course so they are not relevant. You need to tie in better to what is discussed in our
course’s textbooks, like Pojman or Grahek, as well as what is directly discussed in the
lecture/discussion class meetings. I give this advice to all Epistemology A165
students.]
Peter Trinh
Philosophy 165 Theory of Knowledge
Professor David Ring
February 11, 2013
Set 1
1.
Gettier believes that as long as all three conditions are satisfied then you have
knowledge.
2.
According to the JTB theory, you know that it takes you 10 minutes to get to
school, and it is true that school is 10 minutes away from you, therefore you know that it
will take you 10 minutes for you to get school whenever you leave.
3.
A religious belief is true to all people
4.
A counter-examples for the JTB theory said that you brought a lottery ticket
knowing you will lose because it’s a 1 to 100 possibility that you will win.
5.
You went to work at 8 o’ clock and you came home and saw your clock showing it
was 8 o’ clock and you believe it was 8 o’clock.
Peter Trinh
Philosophy 165 Theory of Knowledge
Professor David Ring
February 11, 2013
Set 1 Answers
1.
Gettier believes that as long as all three conditions are satisfied then you have
knowledge.
False. According the Gettier, the three conditions must be jointly sufficient in order for
one to have knowledge. (JTB and Gettier Problems Handout)
2.
According to the JTB theory, you know that it takes you 10 minutes to get to
school, and it is true that school is 10 minutes away from you, therefore you know that it
will take you 10 minutes for you to get school whenever you leave.
False. There was an accident on the way to school, so you were late today.
3.
It is up to us if we believe that a religious belief is true.
True. “Our passional nature has a right to choose whether we believe in God or in
whatever will make us happy.” (Pojman p. 9)
4.
A counter-examples for the JTB theory said that you brought a lottery ticket
knowing you will lose because it’s a 1 to 100 possibility that you will win.
False. In the Lottery counterexample, you brought the ticket not knowing that you will
lose. (JTB and Gettier Problems Handout)
5.
You went to work at 8 o’ clock and you came home and saw your clock showing it
was 8 o’ clock and you believe it was 8 o’clock.
False. Right when you went for work, the clock stopped working at 8 o’ clock so it was
mere luck for you coming home at 8, but not 10 minutes earlier when the time was
different. (Big Ben counterexample in JTB and Gettier Problems handout)
Brittany White
Philosophy A165
Set #1
1. Descartes states that building opinions on false beliefs will result in more
false beliefs.
2. According to the Gettier problem having JTB is sufficient for knowledge.
3. The theory that one must have infallible knowledge upon which all
knowledge is based is called classical foundationalism.
4. Something is possible if it is not self-contradictory.
5. A posteriori knowledge is independent of experience.
Brittany White
Philosophy A165
Set #1 Answers
1. Descartes claims that building opinions on false beliefs will result in more false beliefs.
False. Descartes states that building opinions on false beliefs will result in highly
doubtful beliefs. “Several years have now elapsed since I first became aware that I
had accepted, even from my youth, many false opinions for true, and that
consequently what I afterward based on such principles was highly doubtful.”
(Meditation 1, para 1)
2. According to the Elliott Sober having JTB is sufficient for knowledge.
False. Elliott Sober argues different situations that show JTB to not be sufficient for
knowledge: the Lottery counter example and the Big Ben example. (Knowledge
Handout)
3. The theory that one must have infallible knowledge upon which all knowledge is based
is called classical foundationalism.
True. “We call the traditional view- that we may have infallible non-inferential
knowledge upon which all other knowledge is based - classical foundationalism.”
(Pojman, p. 101)
4. Something is possible if it is not self-contradictory.
True. “A logically possible proposition is one that can be asserted without implying a
logical contradiction.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logical_possibility, para. 1)
5. A posteriori knowledge is independent of experience.
False. A priori knowledge is independent of experience whereas a posteriori
knowledge is dependent on experience.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_priori_and_a_posteriori, para.1)
Stephanie Estrada
Philosophy 165
Set 1
1. Gettier standard account of knowledge is justified true belief.
2. Descartes is investigating what is true and what is false.
3. Descartes believes that the senses can lead us to truth.
4. Knowledge has to be non-accidental.
5. Propositional Knowledge is when “person S knows how to D.” For example,
you know how to speak a language or get around town. It “involves an ability to
perform a skill and may be done consciously or unconsciously.
Stephanie Estrada
Philosophy 165
Set 1
1. Gettier standard account of knowledge is justified true belief.
False. Edmund Gettier believes that one can have justified true belief, but that it does
mean one has knowledge. (Knowledge Handout)
2. Descartes is investigating what is true and what is false.
False. Descartes is not investigating what is true and what is false. He is looking for
knowledge, false is too hard to find. He is looking for what is possibly false, and is not
possibly false. (Class Notes, 2/5)
3. Descartes believes that the senses can lead us to truth.
False. Descartes has believed he possessed the highest truth and certainty, that he has
received from or through high senses. However, he “observed, that these sometimes
misled us; and it is the part of prudence not to place absolute confidence in that by
which we have even once been deceived.” (First Meditation, Paragraph 3)
4. Knowledge has to be non-accidental.
True. Through Gettier’s examples of the lottery and big ben it shows that we require
knowledge to be non-accidental. “When someone knows something it must be in some
way guaranteed that his or her mind is related to the information believed in an
appropriate manner to count as knowledge.” (Knowledge Handout)
5. Propositional Knowledge is when “person S knows how to D.” For example, you
know how to speak a language or get around town. It “involves an ability to perform a
skill and may be done consciously or unconsciously.
False. Propositional knowledge is when person S knows that p. For example you
know that the capital of Alaska is Juneau or that Morgan Freeman is one of the main
characters in The Shawshank Redemption. “Propositions have truth value; that is they
are true or false.” (Pojman, p. 2)
Jessica Stroke
Phil 165: Theory of Knowledge
February 12, 2013
Set 1
1. Descartes believed it was necessary for one to doubt each belief individually.
2. Descartes believed that Arithmetic and Geometry held somewhat that is certain and in
dubitable.
3. The Gettier Problem presents counterexamples to the definition of Knowledge as
Justified True Belief.
4. One may say they know something when their belief is correct by a lucky guess.
5. A belief for person S is incorrigible if and only if it is possible to show that the person
is mistaken.
Jessica Stroke
Phil 165: Theory of Knowledge
February 12, 2013
Set 1
1. Descartes believed it was necessary for one to doubt each belief individually.
False. Meditation I. Paragraph 2. “Nor for this purpose will it be necessary to deal with
each belief individually.”
2. Descartes believed that Arithmetic and Geometry held somewhat that is certain and in
dubitable.
True. Meditation I. Paragraph 8. “…Arithmetic, Geometry, and the other sciences of the
same class…contain somewhat that is certain and indubitable: for whether I am awake or
dreaming, it remains true that two and three make five, and that a square has but four
sides; nor does it seem possible that truths so apparent can ever fall under a suspicion of
falsity.”
3. The Gettier Problem presents counterexamples to the definition of Knowledge as
Justified True Belief.
True. “The Gettier problem is a fundamental problem in contemporary epistemology (the
philosophy of knowledge), issuing from counterexamples to the definition of knowledge
as justified true belief.” http://www.infomutt.com/g/ge/gettier_problem.html
4. One may say they know something when their belief is correct by a lucky guess.
False. Knowledge Handout: The Big Ben example. “This shows that we require that
knowledge be non-accidental.”
5. A belief for person S is incorrigible if and only if it is possible to show that the person
is mistaken.
False. “A belief is incorrigible for someone S if and only if it’s not possible to show that
person that he or she is mistaken.” Pg 101 Paragraph 4
Connor Bell
Theory of Knowledge
12 February 2013
Set 1
1. While many truths are gained through our senses, our senses can often be
misleading.
2. Objects in our dreams are completely abstract, solely created from within our
minds and represent reality in no way.
3. While Smith based his belief that "the man with 10 coins in his pocket would
get the job," off of being told that Jones would get the job and knowing that
Jones had 10 coins in his pocket, Smith ended up getting the job, and,
unbeknownst to him, had 10 coins in his pocket, thus his justified true belief
suffices as knowledge.
4. If P is true, S believes that P, and S is justified in believing that P, then it is true
for all cases that S knows that P.
5. Smith believes, and has evidence for believing, that Jones owns a Ford and does
not know the location of Brown. Brown, and states, "Either Jones owns a Ford,
or Brown is in Boston." It turns out that Jones does not own a Ford and Brown
happens to be in Boston; however, this does not justify that Smith knows
Brown is in Boston.
Connor Bell
Theory of Knowledge
Set 1 Answers
12 February 2013
1. While many truths are gained through our senses, our senses can often be misleading.
True: "All that I have up to this moment, accepted as possessed of the highest truth and
certainty I received either from or through the senses. I observed, however, that these
sometimes misled us; and it is the part of prudence not to place absolute confidence in
that by which we have even once been deceived." (Meditation I, Paragraph 3.)
2. Objects in our dreams are completely abstract, solely created from within our
minds and represent reality in no way.
False: "The objects which appear to us in sleep are, as it were, painted representations
which could not have been formed unless in the likeness of realities; and, therefore,
that those general objects, at all events, namely, eyes, a head, hands, and an entire
body, are not simply imaginary, but really existent." (Meditation I, Paragraph 6.)
3. While Smith based his belief that "the man with 10 coins in his pocket would
get the job," off of being told that Jones would get the job and knowing that
Jones had 10 coins in his pocket, Smith ended up getting the job, and,
unbeknownst to him, had 10 coins in his pocket, thus his justified true belief
suffices as knowledge.
False: Smith's JTB came about only by way of coincidence and entailment, therefore, it
is not a it is not a satisfactory account of knowledge. (Knowledge Handout/ "The
Gettier Problem" website.)
4. If P is true, S believes that P, and S is justified in believing that P, then it is true
for all cases that S knows that P.
False: "In that sense of 'justified' in which S's being justified in believing P is a
necessary condition of S's knowing that P, it is possible for a person to be justified in
believing a proposition that is in fact false." ("Is Justified True Belief Knowledge?"
website.)
5. Smith believes, and has evidence for believing, that Jones owns a Ford and does
not know the location of Brown. Brown, and states, "Either Jones owns a Ford,
or Brown is in Boston." It turns out that Jones does not own a Ford and Brown
happens to be in Boston; however, this does not justify that Smith knows
Brown is in Boston.
True: If these two conditions of Smith's statements hold, Smith still does not know that
Brown is in Boston, for his statement was based upon a false belief of Jones owning a
Ford. ("Is Justified True Belief Knowledge?" website.)
Josue Sanchez
The Theory of Knowledge
Dr. David Ring
February 12th, 2013
Set 1 Questions
1. In his search for a firm foundation for the sciences (knowledge), Descartes tries to
prove that each of his beliefs is false.
2. N is a necessary condition for P, because if N then always P.
3. It is possible to get a falsehood (a false conclusion) despite starting with all truths (all
premises are true) in a deductive argument.
4. When doubting your beliefs Descartes says that one most not withhold assent when
uncertain about the belief.
5. The Gettier Problem shows that Smith possesses knowledge because he possessed the
justified belief that a man with ten coins in his pocket would get the promotion and it
so in fact happened.
Josue Sanchez
Dr. David Ring
The Theory of Knowledge
February 12th, 2013
Set 1 Answers
1. In his search for a firm foundation for the sciences (knowledge), Descartes tries to
prove that each of his beliefs is false.
False. Were Descartes to actually attempt this approach he would not get passed the
first belief that he doubts because he would have to prove that it is false and were he
even to prove that is were false than he would have to prove that this new belief that
his first question belief is false would need to be proven as well, and so this repeated
pattern would continue endlessly; therefore he only tries to show that a belief is
possibly false. (Lecture Notes on Descartes’ First Meditation)
2. N is a necessary condition for P, because if N then always P.
False. Simply because N is a necessary condition for P does not meant that if N then
always P because there may be another component necessary for P. It simply means
that N is necessary for P, thus if P then N. (Lecture Notes on JTB Theory)
3. It is possible to get a falsehood (a false conclusion) despite starting with all truths (all
premises are true) in a deductive argument.
False. Deductive arguments constructed with true premises so a true conclusion is
guaranteed. Inductive arguments, on the other hand, constructed with true premises
result in conclusions that are unlikely false (Lecture Notes on Descartes’ Meditation on
First Philosophy)
4. When doubting your beliefs Descartes says that one most not withhold assent when
uncertain about the belief.
False. On the Contrary Descartes says one must “refrain from assenting” the opinions
that appear to be false. (Descartes’ First Meditation Paragraph 10)
5. The Gettier Problem shows that Smith possesses knowledge because he possessed the
justified belief that a man with ten coins in his pocket would get the promotion and it
so in fact happened.
False. The Gettier Problem shows counterexamples to the JTB theory suggesting that
one can meet the three conditions of the JTB theory buy still not possess genuine
knowledge. (Gettier Problems Handout)
Hayden Frasco
Theory of Knowledge
Professor Ring
12 February, 2013
Set 1
1. Descartes believed it to be necessary to overthrow each of his former opinions
individually.
2. Plato and Descartes held that knowledge was no different than believing.
3. A skeptic believes that we do not have any knowledge.
4. Gettier argues that JTB is not knowledge.
5. Truths stick to propositions, not facts.
Hayden Frasco
Theory of Knowledge
Professor Ring
12 February, 2013
Set 1 Answers
1. Descartes believed it to be necessary to overthrow each of his former opinions
individually.
False. “Nor for this purpose will it be necessary even to deal with each belief
individually, which would be truly an endless labor; but, as the removal from below
of the foundation necessarily involves the downfall of the whole edifice, I will at
once approach the criticism of the principles on which all my former beliefs rested.”
(Meditation 1, para. 2)
2. Plato and Descartes held that knowledge was no different than believing.
False. “Plato and Descartes held that knowledge was different from believing,
involving an infallible state of mind, so that if you found yourself in that knowledge
state of mind, you would be guaranteed to possess the truth. Belief on the other
hand was a kind of uncertainty, an opinion.” (Pojman p. 12, para. 4)
3. A skeptic believes that we do not have any knowledge.
True. “Skepticism is the theory that we do not have any knowledge or at least that
we don’t know most of the things that we claim to know.” (Pojman p. 16, para. 1)
4. Gettier argues that JTB is not knowledge.
True. “I shall argue that (a) is false in that the conditions stated therein do not
constitute a sufficient condition for the truth of the proposition that S knows that P.
The same argument will show that (b) and (c) fail if 'has adequate evidence for' or
'has the right to be sure that' is substituted for 'is justified in believing that'
throughout.” (http://www.ditext.com/gettier/gettier.html)
5. Truths stick to propositions, not facts.
True. “Facts are not true or false, but just are. They are what propositions are
about.” (Pojman, p. 5, para. 5)
Etianne Manetta
Professor Ring
Set 1: True/False Questions
1. The more evidence you have, or the better justified you are regarding a given belief,
the more likely it is to be true, is not a general assumption made regarding epistemic
justification.
2. Gettier argues that the Tripartite Analysis is absolutely wrong.
3. One problem with the defeasibility criterion is that it may just be a matter of luck that
there is no true proposition, which, if known, would defeat your justification.
4. According to Descartes, there are only two methods that guarantee arriving at
knowledge: Intuition and Deductive Reasoning.
5. Descartes deducted the existence of an omnibenevolent God whose nature included
deception.
Etianne Manetta
Professor Ring
Set 1: True/False Answers
1. The more evidence you have, or the better justified you are regarding a given belief,
the more likely it is to be true, is not a general assumption made regarding epistemic
justification.
False. Epistemic justification signifies meeting acceptable epistemic
standards and having positive epistemic status. As reason giving creatures, we seek to
support our beliefs and knowledge claims in ways similar to the way we support moral
and prudential claims. Likewise, we seek to suppor our moral, religious, political, and
philosophical beliefs with good evidence. A general assumption is that, all things
being equal, the more evidence you have, or the better justified you are regarding a
given belief, the more likely it is that your belief is true. (Pojman, p. 15, para. 2)
2. Gettier argues that the Tripartite Analysis is absolutely wrong.
False. (Upon reading Gettier’s counterexamples) Gettier is not arguing that the
Tripartite Analysis is wholly wrong. The thrust of his counterexamples is simply that
the Tripartite Analysis, while perhaps necessary, is not sufficient for knowledge.
(Pojman, p. 83, para. 1)
3. One problem with the defeasibility criterion is that it may just be a matter of luck that
there is no true proposition, which, if known, would defeat your justification.
True. Following the example of Tom Grabit stealing a book; it is a matter of luck that
Tom doesn’t have a twin brother in the vicinity of the library because if he did, S
would not be able to distinguish between them. If being able to discriminate between
objects is necessary for knowledge, then virtually every perception would have a
defeater – some exactly similar perception. (Pojman, p. 88-89, para. 5)
Etianne Manetta
Professor Ring
4. According to Descartes, there are only two methods that guarantee arriving at
knowledge: Intuition and Deductive Reasoning.
True. Intuition is the natural light of reason, provided the only noninferential, infallible
beliefs possible, whereas deductive reason serves to transmit knowledge from the
intuitions to the derived entailments of our intuitions. Deductive reasoning preserves
truth. No other methods guarantee knowledge. Certainly not fallible induction!
(Pojman, p. 100-101, para. 3)
5. Descartes deducted the existence of an omnibenevolent God whose nature included
deception.
False. Descartes deduced that the existence of God as an omnibenevolent being,
whose nature excluded deception. One of his arguments depended on the premise that
there must be at least as much reality in the efficient and total cause of the effect.
From this clear and distinct idea he reasoned the existence of a superior being, the
cause of all reality. Because God implanted our perceptual mechanisms within us, it
follows that we can know that we are not being deceived when we believe things about
objects in the world. (Pojman, p. 103, para. 1)
Kathy Hoang
Philosophy 165
February 11, 2013
Set 1
1. Because of the possibility of deception, Descartes believes in an imperfect
Deity.
2. Most epistemologists agree that adding a causal condition satisfies the
conditions for knowledge.
3. Regarding basic empirical beliefs, the externalist holds that one need not be
aware of the belief, nor explain how it serves as a basic belief.
4. Descartes believes it necessary to prove the entirety of his former opinions
false.
5. Contextualism seeks to establish an iron clad, meta-standard for justification.
Kathy Hoang
Philosophy 165
February 11, 2013
Set 1 Answers
1. Because of the possibility of deception, Descartes believes in an imperfect
Deity.
False. Descartes believes that the Deity is “sovereignly good and the fountain
of truth,” and supposes there is “some malignant demon, who is at once
exceedingly potent and deceitful” as a source of deception. (Descartes,
Meditations 1, para. 12)
2. Most epistemologists agree that adding a causal condition satisfies the
conditions for knowledge.
False. Most epistemologists are “dissatisfied with the causal theory of
knowledge,” and finds the notion of explaining knowledge via causality very
vague. (Pojman, pp. 86-87)
3. Regarding basic empirical beliefs, the externalist holds that one need not be
aware of the belief, nor explain how it serves as a basic belief.
True. The externalist response is “as long as the belief is caused the right way,
it doesn’t matter whether the subject is aware of the belief, let alone can explain
how it serves as a basic belief,” and rejects that one must be in cognitive
possession of a justifying reason. (Pojman, p. 109)
4. Descartes believes it necessary to prove the entirety of his former opinions
false.
False. Descartes claims it “will not be necessary for me to show that the
wholeof these are false,” and argues that finding some ground for doubt
justifies rejection of the whole. (Descartes, Meditations I, para. 2)
5. Contextualism seeks to establish an iron clad, meta-standard for justification.
False. Contextualism asserts that the standards of knowledge are circumstantial,
and may change depending on the issue at hand. (Pojman, pp. 90-91)
Vivian Nguyen
Theory of Knowledge
Spring 2013 Semester
February 12, 2013
Set #1 True/False Questions
1. Descartes states in his first meditation that all that he has accepted that is true is not
from his senses and solely based on other people’s opinions.
2. It is useful to doubt something.
3. Descartes put forth the first comprehensive rationalist theory.
4. The quartet solutions include the tripartite analysis and the pluralistic right way
account.
5. Descartes is completely unaware that he has accepted many false opinions to be
true.
Vivian Nguyen
Spring 2013 Semester
Theory of Knowledge
February 12, 2013
Set #1 True/False Answers
1. Descartes states in his first meditation that all that he has accepted that is true is not
from his senses and solely based on other people’s opinions.
False. “All that I have, up to this moment, accepted as possessed of the highest truth and
certainty, I received either from or through the senses.” (Descartes’ First Meditation, para.
3)
2. It is useful to doubt something.
True. “If something is doubted, it cannot be knowledge and cannot become knowledge.
When truth is discovered, it cannot be doubted, therefore if we know there is doubt in
something, then it cannot be true.” (Professor Ring’s lecture)
3. Descartes put forth the first comprehensive rationalist theory.
False. “The first comprehensive rationalist theory was put forth by Plato, who
distinguishes between two approaches to knowledge: sense perception and reason.”
(Pojman 16)
4. The quartet solutions include the tripartite analysis and the pluralistic right way
account.
False. “The four strategies are: (1) the no false-belief condition; (2) the conclusive
reasons condition; (3) the causal condition: and (4) the defeasibility condition.” (Pojman
83)
5. Descartes is completely unaware that he has accepted many false opinions to be
true.
False. “SEVERAL years have now elapsed since I first became aware that I had accepted,
even from my youth, many false opinions for true, and that consequently what I afterward
based on such principles was highly doubtful; and from that time I was convinced of the
necessity of undertaking once in my life to rid myself all of the opinions I had adopted,
and of commencing anew the work of building from the foundation, if I desired to
establish a firm and abiding superstructure in the sciences.” (Descartes’ First Meditation
para. 1)
Brianna Valencia
Philosophy 165
2/10/13
Set 1
1. In The Meditations on First Philosophy, Rene Descartes mentions that having a
foundation of false beliefs generates one to have more false beliefs.
2. According to the JTB Theory, justification, truth, and belief individually are
sufficient for knowledge.
3. Edmund Gettier gives one counterexample for the JTB Theory to prove it has
falsity, rather than give counterexample for each example to the JTB Theory.
4. There are two types of justification, fallible and infallible.
5. ‘No false beliefs’ is known to be the fourth condition to the JTB Theory.
Brianna Valencia
Philosophy 165
2/10/13
Set 1 Answers
1. In The Meditations on First Philosophy, Rene Descartes mentions that having a
foundation of false beliefs generates one to have more false beliefs.
False. (Para 1 Meditations on First Philosophy) “many false opinions for true, and that
consequently what I afterward based on such principles was highly doubtful”
2. According to the JTB Theory, justification, truth, and belief individually are
sufficient for knowledge.
False. (Lecture Notes) Individually each belief is necessary, while all together are
sufficient.
3. Edmund Gettier gives one counterexample for the JTB Theory to prove it has
falsity, rather than give counterexample for each example to the JTB Theory.
True. (Para 2 in Gettier’s Counterexample, Quia p.7) “ shall argue that (a) is false in that
the conditions stated therein do not constitute a sufficient condition for the truth of the
proposition that S knows that P. The same argument will show that (b) and (c) fail if 'has
adequate evidence for' or 'has the right to be sure that' is substituted for 'is justified in
believing that' throughout.”
4. There are two types of justification, fallible and infallible.
True. (Lecture Notes)
5. ‘No false beliefs’ is known to be the fourth condition to the JTB Theory.
True. (Lecture Notes)
Matthew Wade
Philosophy 165
9 February 2013
Set 1
1. In Descartes’ Meditation 1, he claims that the only thing that is certain is
receive from our senses.
what we
2. Descartes believes that just because many opinions may be false, doe’s not mean the
principles based off them aren’t true.
3. If you have a justified true belief about something then you have knowledge of it.
4. It is insufficient to not reject something that is derived from falsehood.
5. If something is true based on false belief it has become necessarily false.
Matthew Wade
Philosophy 165
9 February 2013
Set 1
1. In Descartes’ Meditation 1, he claims that the only thing that is certain is
receive from our senses.
what we
False, “All that I have, up to this moment, accepted as possessed of the highest truth and
certainty, I received either from or through the senses. I observed, however, that these
sometimes misled us.” (Descartes Meditation 1, Para. 3)
2. Descartes believes that just because many opinions may be false, doe’s not mean the
principles based off them aren’t true.
False, “I first became aware that I had accepted, even from my youth, many false opinions
for true, and that consequently what I afterward based on such principles was highly
doubtful.” (Descartes Meditation 1, Para. 1)
3. If you have a justified true belief about something then you have knowledge of it.
False, In the example of the man who looks at Big Ben, he looks at the clock tower to see
what time it is, and believes that it’s three o’clock, because it says three o’clock. What
he doesn’t know is that Big Ben broke down at 3 A.M. that morning and was under
going repairs still. Yet when he checked the clock it was actually three o’clock P.M.
Was it true it was Three o’clock? Is Big Ben justified as a reliable clock? Does he
believe it s 3?YES YES YES, however he does not know its three o’clock.
4. It is insufficient to not reject something that is derived from falsehood.
True, if something is derived from falsehood, it should be doubted. (Class Notes)
5. If something is true based on false belief it has become necessarily false.
False, if something is based on false belief it has become doubtful. (Class Notes)
Electra Schrock
Phil 165
02/10/2013
True/False Questions: Set #1
1. Aristotle was the first philosopher to define knowledge as a justified true belief.
2. Edmund L. Gettier shows that a justified true belief is sufficient to constitute
knowledge.
3. Rene Descartes states that if a single part of a belief is false it is enough to
maintain the belief on the whole is false.
4. Rene Descartes does not believe in God.
5. Rene Descartes cites the idea of the “evil genius” as a plausible explanation in
believing in false knowledge.
Electra Schrock
Phil 165
True/False Questions with Answers: Set #1
02/10/2013
1. Aristotle was the first philosopher known to define knowledge.
False. Plato defined knowledge prior to Aristotle. Plato wrote, “The true
[sentence] facts as they are...and the false one states things that are other than the
facts...In other words, it speaks of things that are not as if they were” (Pojman, p. 5).
2. Edmund L. Gettier explores that a justified true belief is sufficient to constitute
knowledge.
False. Gettier argues that a justified true belief is not sufficient to knowledge. He
cites two examples whereupon the justified true belief, although it may be accurate,
does not necessitate knowledge in a given category. “I shall argue that
(a) is false in
that the conditions stated therein do not constitute a sufficient condition for the truth of
the proposition that S knows that P. The same
argument will show that (b) and (c) fail
if ‘has adequate evidence for’ or ‘has the right to be sure that’ is substituted for ‘is
justified in believing that’
throughout” (Gettier Handout, p. 1).
3. Rene Descartes states that if a single part of a belief is false it is enough to
maintain the belief on the whole is false.
True. Rene Decartes, in his attempt to discover true knowledge, theorizes that it
is sufficient to disregard a belief if, in fact, a portion of the belief is found to be false.
“But, to this end, it will not be necessary for me to show that the whole
of these are
false--a point, perhaps, which I shall never reach; but as even now
my reason
convinces me that I ought not the less carefully to withhold belief
from what is not
entirely certain and indubitable, than for what is manifestly
false, it will be sufficient
to justify the rejection of the whole if I shall find in
each some ground for doubt”
(Descartes, Meditation I Handout, par. 2).
4. Rene Descartes does not believe in God (Higher Power).
False. Rene Descartes does believe in God (Higher Power). “Nevertheless, the belief
that there is a god who is all powerful, and who created me, such as I am, has, for a
long time, obtained a steady possession of my mind” (Descartes,
Meditation I
Handout, par. 9).
5. Rene Descartes cites the idea of the “evil genius” as a plausible explanation in
believing in false knowledge.
True. Descartes shows the reader the example of a superior being who has power to
deceive man into believing false realities. “I will suppose, then, . . . some malignant
demon, who is at once exceedingly potent and deceitful” (Descartes, Meditation I, par 12).
Felipe Hemming
Professor David Ring, PhD
Phil 165
Spring 2013
Set 1
1. Knowledge is different than true belief.
2. A true belief is always good enough for knowledge.
3. The JTB (justified true belief) theory requires that three conditions be satisfied
for a belief to be known.
4. In Elliot Sober’s “The Big Ben Example”, an externalist would agree that the
person looking at the clock did not have knowledge after reading the time.
5. Justified True Belief (JTB) is sufficient for knowledge.
Felipe Hemming
Phil 165
Dr. David C. Ring
Spring 2013
Set 1 - Answers
1) Knowledge is different than true belief.
True. Knowledge is different in true belief in that it is “justified” (“meeting
acceptable epistemic standards and having positive epistemic status”) and nonaccidental. (Pojman 14-15)
2) A true belief is always good enough for knowledge.
False; A belief can be true by chance. Sober’s lottery counter example to JTB,
Purchasing 1 only 100 lottery tickets and
believing you are going to lose does
not mean that you know you will lose. The Odds of losing is an overwhelming
99%, and you may be justified in believing you will lose, but you cannot know with
certainty that you are not the winning 1%. (Theory of Knowledge Handout, pp.10).
3) The JTB (justified true belief) theory requires that three conditions be satisfied for a
belief to be known.
True. The standard account of knowledge is that knowledge is justified by true
belief. Each of these three conditions is held to be necessary for having knowledge
because without any of the three one cannot have knowledge. All three together are
held to be jointly sufficient for knowledge. Three conditions constitute the
necessary and sufficient conditions of the standard account of knowledge. (Pojman,
p.81, JTB Handout)
4) In Elliot Sober’s “The Big Ben Example”, an externalist would agree that the
person looking at the clock did not have knowledge after reading the time.
False. An externalist does not require the knower to be cognizant of the required
conditions for the knowledge, whereas the internalist does. (Lecture JTB HO)
5) Justified True Belief (JTB) is sufficient for knowledge.
False. As Edmund Gettier demonstrated, JTB may be necessary, but is not
sufficient for knowledge. (Pojman, p. 83)
Ates Bayraktaroglu
Dr. Ring
Philosophy 165
9 February 2013
Set 1
1. The tripartite analysis states, that p believes S and if p is true then S's belief
that p is justified.
2. Gettiers six page paper on the definition of knowledge was irrelevant to
the epistemology world.
3. Knowledge is certain which makes it impossible to doubt.
4. You can doubt mental objects just as easy as doubting material objects.
5. In order for Descartes to build a strong new structure for knowledge, he first has
to abolish his beliefs because many of them may be false.
Ates Bayraktaroglu
Philosophy 165
2013
Dr. Ring
9 February
Set 1 Answers
1. The tripartite analysis states that p believes S and if p is true; then S's belief
that p is justified is correct.
False "These three conditions constitute the necessary and sufficient conditions
of the standard account of knowledge. if one of them is missing, S does not
know that p. If all of them are pres, S cannot fail to know that p,"
(Pojman P. 82)
2. Gettiers six page paper on the definition of knowledge was irrelevant to
the epistemology world.
False "Gettier's article on the definition of knowledge, which was less than three
pages, was published in Analysis, and epistemology has never been the same,"
(Pojman P. 82)
3. Knowledge is certain which makes it impossible to doubt.
True (lecture)
4. You can doubt mental objects just as easy as doubting material objects.
False (lecture)
5. In order for Descartes to build a strong new structure for knowledge, he first has
to abolish his beliefs because many of them may be false.
True "I was convinced of the necessity of undertaking once in my life to rid my
self of all the opinions I had adopted, and commencing anew the work of
building from the foundation," (Descartes, para. 1)
Irving Reyes
Prof. David C. Ring
Philosophy 165
Set 1
1. Descartes’ believes that our senses though we learned and experienced
the world through them can be misleading.
2. Descartes’ thinks’ that instead of questioning each of his beliefs
individually it would be easier rather to question the foundation on which
those beliefs were created upon.
3. On further thought about simple and general objects Descartes’ comes to
realize that even these can be doubted.
4. The images and objects which we see in the sleeping state and take for as
reality are representations of objects from the awake state.
5. Descartes’ believes that god has committed himself to deceiving him
so that every though he has is false.
Irving Reyes
Prof. David C. Ring
Philosophy 165
Set 1 Answers
1. Descartes’ believes that our senses though we learned and experienced
the world through them can be misleading.
True. Descartes’ does believe our senses can be misleading mainly with
small and faraway objects that are hard to observe.
2. Descartes’ thinks’ that instead of questioning each of his beliefs
individually it would be easier rather to question the foundation on which
those beliefs were created upon.
True. “Nor for this purpose will it be necessary even to deal with
each belief individually, which would be truly an endless labor; but,
as the removal from below of the foundation necessarily involves the
downfall of the whole edifice. “ ( Meditation 1 para. 2 )
3. On further thought about simple and general objects Descartes’ comes to
realize that even these can be doubted.
True. “How do I know that I am not also deceived each time I add
together two and three, or number the sides of a square, or form some
judgment still more simple, if more simple can be imagined?”
( Meditation 1 para. 9 )
4. The images and objects which we see in the sleeping state and take for as
reality are representations of objects from the awake state.
True. “The objects which appear to us in sleep are, as it were,
painted representations which could not have been formed unless
the likeness of realities. “ ( Meditation 1 para. 6 )
5. Descartes’ believes that god has committed himself to deceiving him
so that every though he has is false.
False. Believes a demon is deceiving him. (Meditation 1, para. 12 )
Adham Elgharib
Theory of Knowledge Philo 165
Set 1
1. Descartes has full faith in all his senses because they have always been reliable and
have never mislead him.
2. The tripartite analysis of the JTB are that S believes that P, P is true, and S has reason
to believe that P is true.
3. Laurence BonJour's Anti-Foundationalist Argument states that we cannot have a set of
basic empirical beliefs because each belief would be based on another set of empirical
beliefs.
4. An internalist believes you can have a basic set of beliefs based on immediate
awareness or self-evident intuition.
5. Descartes believes his Deity is the cause of all the possible deception and
misunderstanding of the world.
Adham Elgharib
Theory of Knowledge Philo 165
Set 1 Answers
1. Descartes has full faith in all his senses because they have always been reliable and
have never mislead him.
False. Descartes had no fate in his senses, as he "observed, however, that these
sometimes misled us; and it is the part of prudence not to place absolute confidence in
that by which we have even once been deceived." (Meditations I, para. 3)
2. The tripartite analysis of the JTB are that S believes that P, P is true, and S has reason
to believe that P is true.
False. The tripartite analysis of the JTB states that we have a justified, true belief when
"S knows that p if and only if: 1. S believes that P. 2. p is true. 3. S's belief that p is
justified." (Pojman, p. 81)
3. Laurence BonJour's Anti-Foundationalist Argument states that we cannot have a set of
basic empirical beliefs because each belief would be based on another set of empirical
beliefs.
True. The basic foundationalist thesis states that we can have basic empirical beliefs
that are epistemically justified and whose justification needs no further empirical
beliefs. He then goes on to say "Premise (5) states that empirical beliefs must have
some empirical input, otherwise they wouldn't be empirical." (Pojman, p. 109)
4. An internalist believes you can have a basic set of beliefs based on immediate
awareness or self-evident intuition.
True. The internalist believes in "the idea of the given, that empirically basic beliefs are
simply given or presented and cannot have (or need not have) any further justification."
(Pojman, p. 111)
5. Descartes believes his Deity is the cause of all the possible deception and
misunderstanding of the world.
False. Descartes assumes it is "not that Deity, who is sovereignly good and the fountain
of truth, but that some malignant demon, who is at once exceedingly potent and
deceitful, has employed all his artifice to deceive me." (Meditations I, para. 12)
Hayden Frasco
Theory of Knowledge
Professor Ring
12 February, 2013
Set 1
1. Descartes believed it to be necessary to overthrow each of his former opinions
individually.
2. Plato and Descartes held that knowledge was no different than believing.
3. A skeptic believes that we do not have any knowledge.
4. Gettier argues that JTB is not knowledge.
5. Truths stick to propositions, not facts.
Hayden Frasco
Theory of Knowledge
Professor Ring
12 February, 2013
Set 1 Answers
1. Descartes believed it to be necessary to overthrow each of his former opinions
individually.
False , “Nor for this purpose will it be necessary even to deal with each belief
individually, which would be truly an endless labor; but, as the removal from below
of the foundation necessarily involves the downfall of the whole edifice, I will at
once approach the criticism of the principles on which all my former beliefs rested.”
(Meditation 1, para. 2)
2. Plato and Descartes held that knowledge was no different than believing.
False, “Plato and Descartes held that knowledge was different from believing,
involving an infallible state of mind, so that if you found yourself in that knowledge
state of mind, you would be guaranteed to possess the truth. Belief on the other
hand was a kind of uncertainty, an opinion.” (Pojman p. 12, para. 4)
3. A skeptic believes that we do not have any knowledge.
True, “Skepticism is the theory that we do not have any knowledge or at least that
we don’t know most of the things that we claim to know.” (Pojman p. 16, para. 1)
4. Gettier argues that JTB is not knowledge.
True, “I shall argue that (a) is false in that the conditions stated therein do not
constitute a sufficient condition for the truth of the proposition that S knows that P.
The same argument will show that (b) and (c) fail if 'has adequate evidence for' or
'has the right to be sure that' is substituted for 'is justified in believing that'
throughout.” (http://www.ditext.com/gettier/gettier.html)
5. Truths stick to propositions, not facts.
True, “Facts are not true or false, but just are. They are what propositions are
about.” (Pojman, p. 5, para. 5)
Dallas Diogostine
Philosophy 165
February 12, 2013
T/F Set 1 Questions:
1. You can accidentally know something and it will count as knowledge.
2. Gettier's counterexamples argue that the tripartite analysis is wrong.
3. While knowing that P has fallible justification, then P is always true and
never false.
4. Intuition and deductive reasoning are the only two methods that
Descartes guarantees to arrive at knowledge.
5. If you have the three conditions of JTB, S cannot fail to know that p.
Dallas Diogostine
Philosophy 165
February 12, 2013
T/F Set 1 Answers:
1. You can accidentally know something and it will count as knowledge.
False. "This shows that we require that knowledge be non-accidental. When
someone knows something it must be in some way guaranteed that his or her mind
is related to the information believed in an appropriate manner to count as
knowledge." (Knowledge Handout, last paragraph)
2. Gettier's counterexamples argue that the tripartite analysis is wrong.
False. "Note that Gettier is not arguing that the tripartite analysis is wholly wrong.
The thrust of his counterexamples is simply that the tripartite analysis, while
perhaps necessary, is not sufficient for knowledge." (Pojman, p. 83, paragraph 1)
3. While knowing that P has fallible justification, then P is always true and
never false.
False. Fallible: reliable but not impossible to be wrong. (Lecture Notes)
4. Intuition and deductive reasoning are the only two methods that
Descartes guarantees to arrive at knowledge.
True. "According to Descartes only two methods guarantee arriving at knowledge:
intuition and deductive reasoning." (Pojman, p. 100, paragraph 4)
5. If you have the three conditions of JTB, S cannot fail to know that p.
True. "These three conditions constitute the necessary and sufficient conditions of
the standard account of knowledge. If all of them are present, S cannot fail to know
p." (Pojman, p. 82, paragraph 1)