Write a short essay addressing all five parts of the prompt. (About 3-5 pages, double space, standard margins and font should be enough)! Use examples to illustrating concepts and arguments that you use and explain in your essays. Feel free to use the examples discussed in readings and in class). If you quote or paraphrase someone, give a source (but I do not care about a list of references, or any formal footnotes, etc.; it’s not a research paper).A prompt / question: (10 points total, 2 points for each part)What is Traditional Skepticism about the external world?
Explain. Your explanation should include the concepts of external world and perceptual belief. Give some examples of perceptual beliefs (about external world) and some examples of other beliefs that are not about the external world. (For full credit, you need to give at least one example of each kind of belief.)
What is Methodological (“Cartesian”) Skepticism about the external world? How is Methodological Skepticism different from Traditional Skepticism? Explain!
Skeptics argue that, in order to have knowledge, an agent must have absolute (or metaphysical) certainty. Using convincing examples, explain the concept of absolute certainty. Non- skeptics argue that, in order to know, we must have practical certainty. Explain this concept using convincing examples.
Explain how a skeptic may argue that we never have absolute certainty about any perceptual belief and thus never know any perceptual belief. (Hint: Feel free to use one of the radical skeptical hypotheses introduced and discussed in class and readings.)
Explain how a non-skeptic might argue that sometimes we know something about the external world. Relate your answer to the concept of practical certainty and various theories of justification.
Main readings:Blackburn, Chapter 1, “Knowledge”
Truncellito, “Epistemology” http://www.iep.utm.edu/epistemo/
Supplementary reading:Stephen Hetherington, “Gettier Problems” https://www.iep.utm.edu/gettier/ (a very clear explanation of Gettier Problem (including multiple examples) and a review of possible solutions to it)
Matthias Steup, “The Analysis of Knowledge” http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/knowledge-analysis/
Peter Klein, “Skepticism” http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/skepticism/
Requirements: 5-6 lines per question with examples
