AQA A LEVEL PHILOSOPHY NOTES - EPISTEMOLOGY
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The intuition and deduction thesis notes
Introduction to what inferred knowledge means.
Most of what we take to be true is inferred knowledge.
E.g., your knowledge that dinosaurs exist was inferred from the existence of fossils, which was inferred from
something else, and so on
We apparently get an infinite regression of inference (E.g., I know X due to Y due to Z and so on)
Solution: foundationalism, the idea that some knowledge is just foundational and not inferred we just
know it.
Descartes attempts to prove a synthetic truth (the world exists) a priori – through intuition that I exist and then
deduction that the world exists.
So he attempt to defeat scepticism a priori.
The meaning of deduction:
A deductive argument is one where the premises guarantee the conclusion.
The meaning of intuition:
In everyday terminology, intuition refers to your gut feeling BUT
For Descartes: intuition is non-inferential meaning you know X just by thinking about it. It’s our way of
attaining basic knowledge and must be correct.
Cogito argument:
Descartes tries to rationally doubt all beliefs, to determine what knowledge is indubitable and foundational
to stop infinite regression.
“I think, therefore I am”: this is what Descartes says we know directly through intuition: even if you are being
deceived by an evil demon or are in a simulation you know you exist. The mere fact you can think guarantees
your existence.
The cogito argument is indubitable. If you try to doubt that you are doing the act of doubting, it is impossible
(doubt is a form of thinking).
Clear and distinct perceptions:
Any idea presented as clear and distinct to our rational intuition can be taken to be true.
Clear: the attentive mind easily and accessibly gains the idea (accurately)
Distinct: the idea is sharply separated from any other idea
Together these perceptions are self-evident, and you are unable to doubt them (they are true in themselves)
This is definitely true because you can clearly and distinctly see that you exist (if it was false the conclusion
would be that you don’t exist, which is definitely not true). The Cogito argument harnesses clear and distinct
ideas.
Arguments against us existing:
Argument 1: [Hume] If you remove all of your conscious states (e.g., vision, sense, emotions), Hume argues nothing is
left and so the idea of the “self” does not exist – the concept of the self becomes diminished. Hume says we never
actually experience the self, rather we only experience constant impressions. The self may not exist, and we are
merely a stream of consciousness that experiences thoughts or impressions. Illusion of the self.
Argument 2: It’s part of my essence that I’m born due to my parents (this ensures “I” exist and not “something”
exists). I can rationally doubt my parents’ existence, however, so cannot be sure “I” exist.
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