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A Level Philosophy (Year 1) Exam Questions and Answers
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A Level Philosophy (Year 1) Exam Questions and Answers
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A Level Philosophy (Year 1) ExamQuestions and Answers
What is philosophical scepticism? [3] - Answer>> Philosophical
scepticism is the position that our usual justifications for claiming
that beliefs amount to knowledge are inadequate, it is used a
measure to test the strength of our knowledge/ justifications.
Philosophical scepticism arises when the sceptic's
hypothesis/challenge is said to render one's ordinary evidence
insufficient for justifying one's belief that p. The grounds for doubt
cannot be removed by ordinary evidence (but may be combatted
by philosophical argument).
What is propositional knowledge? - Answer>> propositional
knowledge is factual & knowing that a certain proposition is true
or false- knowing that 2+2=4, knowing that Shakespeare wrote
hamlet etc. We speak of knowing this through language- requires
language and concepts, can only be had by humans, more formal
form of knowledge, requires self- awareness. The only knowledge
you CANNOT be born with.
What is acquaintance knowledge? [3] - Answer>> Acquaintance
knowledge is knowing of; knowing of a place, of a sensation or a
feeling, for example knowing the taste of pineapple having tried it,
some philosophers regard knowledge by acquaintance with our
particular sense data (shape, size, colour etc) and without input of
these senses our mind would be a blank slate- tabular rasa.
Expressed more through behaviour.
What is ability knowledge? [3] - Answer>> Ability knowledge is
knowing how, practical knowledge; knowing how to swim, how to
ride a bike, how to read- through experience. Expressed through
actions more than language.
,Briefly explain why Aristotle thinks pleasure is not the only good?
[3] - Answer>> According to Aristotle, what is good is a 'final
end', something we aim for at it its own sake. Pleasure is not the
only good because, he argues, pleasure is not the only things that
we aim at for its own sake. There are other things which we seek
out, such as knowledge and virtue, that we would seek out even if
they brought us no pleasure. The pleasure they bring is not why
we seek them out. They are also final ends, not means to
pleasure.
Outline the tripartite definition of knowledge [3] - Answer>>
Tripartite definition of knowledge claims that If someone knows a
proposition then all three conditions must be satisfied- justified
true belief, so the it has to be justified, true and you have to
believe. JTB is necessary and sufficient for propositional
knowledge (S knows P if and only if S is justified in believing that
P, P is true, S believes that P). They are jointly sufficient and
individually necessary.
Outline the no false lemmas definition of knowledge [3] -
Answer>> No false lemmas adds an extra condition to the JTB
definition to avoid the gettier cases.
P1) P is true
P2) You believe that P
P3) Your belief that P is justified
P4) You did not infer that P from a false belief
Outline the infallibilist definition of knowledge [3] - Answer>>
P1) No one can know what is false
C1) Therefore, if I know that P then I can't be mistaken about P.
C2) Therefore, for justification to secure knowledge, justification
must guarantee truth.
,C3) Therefore, If i am justified in believing that P, I can't be
mistaken about P.
C4) Therefore, if it is possible that I am mistaken, then I can't be
justified in believing that P.
C5) Therefore, Infallibilism is true
It rules out Gettier cases and fake barn but rules out all other
forms of knowledge essentially.
Outline the Reliabilist's definition of knowledge [3] - Answer>>
P1) P is true
P2) You believe that P, and
P3) Your belief is formed by a reliable cognitive proccess
C) Reliabilism shows knowledge
A reliable process is one that produces high percentages of true
beliefs (e.g. perception, memory and testimony). Allows animals
and young children to have knowledge but does not solve the
gettier cases, fake barn or brain in a vat because your reliable
process has let you down.
Outline the Virtue Epistemology definition of knowledge [3] -
Answer>> P1. P is True
P2. You believe that P, and
P3. Your belief is a result of exercising your epistemic virtues.
C) VE provides the correct definition of knowledge.
Solves fake barn and Gettier cases.
Outline Plato's slave boy argument [3] - Answer>> P1) The
slave boy has no prior knowledge of geometry
P2) Socrates only asks questions; he does not teach the boy
anything new.
P3) After the questioning the boys discovers a geometric truth.
P4) This truth was not derived from experience with socrates.
C) This truth must have existed in the boy (innately) to begin with.
, Outline Locke's argument of the mind as a 'tabula rasa'. [3] -
Answer>> A response to innatism:
P1) The theory of innate ideas claims that we are born with innate
ideas.
P2) All our ideas are shown to be derived from experience (tabula
Rasa)
C) The theory of innate ideas is redundant.
Outine Leibniz's argument from the necessity of truth [3] -
Answer>> P1) The senses can only reveal instances of general
truths
P2) The senses cannot reveal the necessity of general truths.
P3) Our minds can see the necessity of some general truths.
C) Our ability to see the necessity of general truths is not derived
from the senses, but is based on innate principles.
Explain the Locke's argument of no universal assent (in response
to innatism) [3] - Answer>> P1) Any innate idea, x, if it exists
would be universally held.
P2) Children and idiots do not have the idea of X
P3) If an idea is held in the mind then you must be aware of it.
C1) So x is not univerally held
C2) Therefore, x, is not innate.
What is indirect realism [3] - Answer>> Indirect Realism is a
Realist theory of perception that claims that the external world
exists independently of the mind. The immediate objects of
perception are caused by and represent mind-independent
objects which we perceive indirectly via sense-data.
What is direct realism [3] - Answer>> Direct Realism is a realist
theory of perception that claims that we view the external world
directly and independently of our minds. The way we perceive
objects is how they truly are. The immediate objects of perception
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