Courses :: Module, EPISTEMOLOGY

	Overview
	This module examines a range of historically significant and contemporary views on the nature, origins, extent and justificatory status of human knowledge-claims. It is divided into four main sections, corresponding to the way theory of knowledge is addressed in ancient Greek, medieval, modern, and contemporary philosophy. It begins with Plato�s famous discussion of the nature of knowledge in the Theaetetus. Then it deals with �abstraction� theory in medieval philosophy and the problem of universals in medieval epistemology. It then focuses in the modern period on Descartes�s rationalist formulation of the problem of knowledge in the Meditations, Locke and Hume�s empiricist responses to Descartes, Kant�s attempt to synthesize both approaches, and Husserl�s doctrine of the intuition of essences as a solution to the origin of the justification of a priori judgements. Finally, it concludes with some contemporary discussion on �the Gettier Problem�, Foundationalism and Coherentism.

Overview

This module examines a range of historically significant and contemporary views on the nature, origins, extent and justificatory status of human knowledge-claims. It is divided into four main sections, corresponding to the way theory of knowledge is addressed in ancient Greek, medieval, modern, and contemporary philosophy. It begins with Plato�s famous discussion of the nature of knowledge in the Theaetetus. Then it deals with �abstraction� theory in medieval philosophy and the problem of universals in medieval epistemology. It then focuses in the modern period on Descartes�s rationalist formulation of the problem of knowledge in the Meditations, Locke and Hume�s empiricist responses to Descartes, Kant�s attempt to synthesize both approaches, and Husserl�s doctrine of the intuition of essences as a solution to the origin of the justification of a priori judgements. Finally, it concludes with some contemporary discussion on �the Gettier Problem�, Foundationalism and Coherentism.

	Learning Outcomes
	On successful completion of the module, students should be able to: Distinguish epistemology as a philosophical discipline from kindred approaches to knowledge (e.g. from sociology, psychology, anthropology). Identify differences in meaning of basic terms used in theory of knowledge, such as, �knowledge�, �belief�, �true belief�, �false belief�, �certitude�, �certainty�. Recognise the significance of the epistemic distinction between �a posteriori� and �a priori� knowledge-claims and between �assertoric and apodictic evidence�. Discriminate between historical formulations of the problem of knowledge and responses to that problem attempted in ancient Greek, medieval, modern and contemporary philosophy (e.g. by Plato, Aquinas, Scotus, Descartes, Locke, Hume, Kant, Husserl, Chisholm, Gettier, Bonjour, Lehrer, Goldman) and evaluate their accounts. Recognise the significance of the difference between the question of the psychological origins of ideas and the epistemological justification of knowledge-claims, and the inadequacy of the former to the later (e.g. psychologism and the genetic fallacy in epistemology in relation to the problem of �universals�). Identify the problem of the origin and limits to knowledge-claims, and assess some of the main responses to that problem in ancient, medieval, modern and contemporary epistemology (e.g. the problem of �certainty� and skepticism, the problem of �induction� and the status of natural-scientific knowledge-claims, problems with defining knowledge as �justified true belief�). Discuss and evaluate central tenets and themes in contemporary foundationalist and coherentist accounts of knowledge. Demonstrate, through critical written and oral communication skills and argument style in philosophy, an ability to address pivotal philosophical questions regarding some central concepts and tenets in ancient Greek, modern and contemporary theories of knowledge.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students should be able to:

Distinguish epistemology as a philosophical discipline from kindred approaches to knowledge (e.g. from sociology, psychology, anthropology).
Identify differences in meaning of basic terms used in theory of knowledge, such as, �knowledge�, �belief�, �true belief�, �false belief�, �certitude�, �certainty�.
Recognise the significance of the epistemic distinction between �a posteriori� and �a priori� knowledge-claims and between �assertoric and apodictic evidence�.
Discriminate between historical formulations of the problem of knowledge and responses to that problem attempted in ancient Greek, medieval, modern and contemporary philosophy (e.g. by Plato, Aquinas, Scotus, Descartes, Locke, Hume, Kant, Husserl, Chisholm, Gettier, Bonjour, Lehrer, Goldman) and evaluate their accounts.
Recognise the significance of the difference between the question of the psychological origins of ideas and the epistemological justification of knowledge-claims, and the inadequacy of the former to the later (e.g. psychologism and the genetic fallacy in epistemology in relation to the problem of �universals�).
Identify the problem of the origin and limits to knowledge-claims, and assess some of the main responses to that problem in ancient, medieval, modern and contemporary epistemology (e.g. the problem of �certainty� and skepticism, the problem of �induction� and the status of natural-scientific knowledge-claims, problems with defining knowledge as �justified true belief�).
Discuss and evaluate central tenets and themes in contemporary foundationalist and coherentist accounts of knowledge.
Demonstrate, through critical written and oral communication skills and argument style in philosophy, an ability to address pivotal philosophical questions regarding some central concepts and tenets in ancient Greek, modern and contemporary theories of knowledge.

	Autumn Supplementals/Resits
	University scheduled written examination (Autumn): 90 minutes

Autumn Supplementals/Resits

	Pre-Requisites
	PH101, PH102, PH103, PH104

Pre-Requisites

Search form

Courses / Module

EPISTEMOLOGY

Semester 1

Semester 2