Instructions: Write a paper between 700-800 words on a skeptical argument covered in lecture and/or the course readings (choose from the options below). Please follow the outline provided below. Please turn in to Canvas in a pdf or doc format. 12pt, Normal Font, Double Spaced. Citations are only necessary if you cite something outside of the course readings and lecture material. Outline of your paper: Give the argument in premise/conclusion form. Explain each premise and offer reasons as to why a reasonable person should accept each premise as true. Explain how the premises support the conclusion. Assuming that you believe the argument fails, choose a premise that you believe is false. Explain why you believe it is false (offer reasons or an argument for believing that the premise is false). Explain how denying the premise allows you to avoid the conclusion of the argument. Skeptical arguments to choose from: All are from the Feldman reading on Skepticism (Ch 6) Argument 6.4: The Possibility of Error Argument 4-1. For (almost) any belief any person has about the external world, that belief could be mistaken. 4-2. If a belief could be mistaken, then it is not a case of knowledge. 4-3. Therefore, (almost) any belief any person has about the external world is not knowledge (i.e, no one knows anything, or more than very little, about the external world). (4-1), (4-2) Argument 6.5: The Introspective Indistinguishability Argument 5-1. If a person can have knowledge on the basis of fallible evidence, then there can be cases of knowledge that are “introspectively indistinguishable” from cases of nonknowledge. 5-2. But there cannot be cases of knowledge that are introspectively indistinguishable from cases of nonknowledge. 5-3. A person cannot have knowledge on the basis of fallible evidence. (5-1), (5-2) 5-4. But all the evidence we have for any propositions about the external world is fallible. 5-5. We cannot have any knowledge about the external world. (5-3), (5-4) Argument 6.6: The Certainty Argument 6-1. If S knows p, then S is absolutely certain of p. 6-2. No one is ever absolutely certain of anything about the external world. 6-3. No one knows anything about the external world. (6-1), (6-2) Argument 6.7: The Transmissibility Argument O – (Ordinary statement about the world) I have hands! SK – (Skeptical Hypothesis) I am being deceived by intelligent robots keeping my brain trapped in the Matrix. 7-1. S cannot know that (SK) is false. 7-2. (O) implies that (SK) is false, and S knows this. 7-3. If S knows that (O) is true, and that (O) implies that (SK) is false, then S can know that (SK) is false. 7-4. S does not know (O). (7-1)-(7-3) Note about feedback: Grading papers takes a lot of work and time. To streamline the process, I would like to know which of you will be looking over any comments that I give on papers graded. If you would like feedback on your written assignments, please put the following note at the top of the assignment near your name: FEEDBACK PLEASE. If you won’t be looking at any comments given, please do not ask for feedback and I will just assign your paper a grade. I can also always give verbal feedback and comments in office hours if you want to discuss your written work or get help improving your writing skills.
