Epistemology
the area of philosophy that deals with questions concerning knowledge and that considers various theories of knowledge
A priori knowledge
knowledge justified independently of, or prior to, experience.
A posteriori knowledge
knowledge based on, or posterior to, experience empirical based on experience
Skepticism
the claim that we do not have knowledge
Rationalism
the claim that reason or the intellect is the primary source of our fundamental knowledge about reality
Empiricism
the claim that sense experience is the sole source of our knowledge about the world
Constructivism
the claim that knowledge is neither already in the mind nor passively received from experience but that the mind constructs knowledge out of the materials of experience
Epistemological relativism
the claim that there is no universal, objective knowledge of reality because all knowledge is relative to either the individual or his or her culture
Universal belief falsifiers
strategies used by skeptics to attack knowledge claims by showing that there are possible states of affairs that would prevent us from ever distinguishing true beliefs from fake ones
Principle of induction
the assumption that the future will be like the past
Uniformity of nature
the thesis that the laws of nature that have been true thus far will continue to be true tomorrow
Innate ideas
ideas that are inborn; ideas or principles that the mind already contains prior to experience
Primary qualities
the properties of an object that can be mathematically expressed and scientifically
studied, that is, the properties of solidity, extension, shape, motion or rest, and number
Secondary qualities
the properties of an object that are subjectively perceived, that are the effects the
object has on our sense organs, and whose appearances are different from the object that produces them, that is, the properties of color, sound, taste, smell, and textur
Idealism
the position that maintains that ultimate reality is mental or spiritual in nature
Representative realism
the view that we do not directly experience external objects, but their primary qualities (such as shape and size) produce ideas in us that accurately represent these real properties of the objects
Synthetic a posteriori knowledge
knowledge that is based on experience and that adds new information to the subject.
Synthetic a priori knowledge
knowledge that is acquired through reason, independently of experience, that is universal and necessary, and that provides information about the way the world is
Phenomena
in Kant's theory, the things-as-they-appear-to-us that exist in the world of our experience, which is partially constructed by the mind
Noumena
in Kant's theory, the things-in-themselves that exist outside our experience
Objectivism
the claim that there is one set of universal truths or facts about the world and that these truths are independent of us.
Subjectivism
the claim that beliefs are relative to each person's individual perspective
Cultural relativism
the claim that all beliefs are relative to a particular culture
Historical relativism
: the claim that each historical age had different conceptual frameworks such that there are no universal truths but only truths that are correct for a particular age
Correspondence theory of truth
a theory that states that
(1) reality has a determinant, objective character, and
(2) a belief or statement is true or false to the degree to which it corresponds to or represents the objective features of reality.
Perspectivism
the theory that there cannot be any uninterpreted "facts" or "truths," because everything we encounter is seen from one perspective or another
Pragmatism
a philosophy that stresses the intimate relation between thought and action by defining the meaning of our conceptions in terms of the practical effects we associate with them and the truth of our beliefs in terms of how successfully they guide our action
Epistemology
the area of philosophy that deals with questions concerning knowledge and that considers various theories of knowledge
A priori knowledge
knowledge justified independently of, or prior to, experience.
A posteriori knowledge
knowledge based on, or posterior to, experience empirical based on experience
Skepticism
the claim that we do not have knowledge
Rationalism
the claim that reason or the intellect is the primary source of our fundamental knowledge about reality
Empiricism
the claim that sense experience is the sole source of our knowledge about the world
Constructivism
the claim that knowledge is neither already in the mind nor passively received from experience but that the mind constructs knowledge out of the materials of experience
Epistemological relativism
the claim that there is no universal, objective knowledge of reality because all knowledge is relative to either the individual or his or her culture
Universal belief falsifiers
strategies used by skeptics to attack knowledge claims by showing that there are possible states of affairs that would prevent us from ever distinguishing true beliefs from fake ones
Principle of induction
the assumption that the future will be like the past
Uniformity of nature
the thesis that the laws of nature that have been true thus far will continue to be true tomorrow
Innate ideas
ideas that are inborn; ideas or principles that the mind already contains prior to experience
Primary qualities
the properties of an object that can be mathematically expressed and scientifically
studied, that is, the properties of solidity, extension, shape, motion or rest, and number
Secondary qualities
the properties of an object that are subjectively perceived, that are the effects the
object has on our sense organs, and whose appearances are different from the object that produces them, that is, the properties of color, sound, taste, smell, and textur
Idealism
the position that maintains that ultimate reality is mental or spiritual in nature
Representative realism
the view that we do not directly experience external objects, but their primary qualities (such as shape and size) produce ideas in us that accurately represent these real properties of the objects
Synthetic a posteriori knowledge
knowledge that is based on experience and that adds new information to the subject.
Synthetic a priori knowledge
knowledge that is acquired through reason, independently of experience, that is universal and necessary, and that provides information about the way the world is
Phenomena
in Kant's theory, the things-as-they-appear-to-us that exist in the world of our experience, which is partially constructed by the mind
Noumena
in Kant's theory, the things-in-themselves that exist outside our experience
Objectivism
the claim that there is one set of universal truths or facts about the world and that these truths are independent of us.
Subjectivism
the claim that beliefs are relative to each person's individual perspective
Cultural relativism
the claim that all beliefs are relative to a particular culture
Historical relativism
: the claim that each historical age had different conceptual frameworks such that there are no universal truths but only truths that are correct for a particular age
Correspondence theory of truth
a theory that states that
(1) reality has a determinant, objective character, and
(2) a belief or statement is true or false to the degree to which it corresponds to or represents the objective features of reality.
Perspectivism
the theory that there cannot be any uninterpreted "facts" or "truths," because everything we encounter is seen from one perspective or another
Pragmatism
a philosophy that stresses the intimate relation between thought and action by defining the meaning of our conceptions in terms of the practical effects we associate with them and the truth of our beliefs in terms of how successfully they guide our action