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Epistemology
Chapter 6/7 Homework
(This is chapter 6 in the 6 th edition, or chapter 7 in the 7 th
edition.)
Instructions
There are four parts to this assignment. Each part requires you to type in information.
1. Definitions
2. How each philosopher thinks you acquire knolwedge
3. Compare each philosopher
4. Précis
Part One / Definitions
In your own words define/explain the following Concepts:
Rationalism -
Empiricism -
Mysticism –
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Pragmatism-
Methodical Skepticism -
Common Sense Skepticism -
Absolute Skepticism -
Innate Ideas-
Aprioi-
Tabula Rasa-
A Posteriori-
Cartesian Foundationalism-
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Evendentialism-
Correspondence theory of Truth-
Coherence theory of truth-
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Part Two / What each philosopher thinks is really real
Do the following:
1. Fill in the blanks for each philosopher.
2. Make sure explain what each philosopher believes is the basis for
knowledge and why.
Al-Ghazali
What does Al-Ghazali think is the basis for knowledge? _________________________
Al-Ghazali is a (absolute skeptic, common sense skeptic, or a methodical skeptic)
___________________ regarding knowledge because _________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Al-Ghazaliis a (mystic, rationalist, empiricist, or a pragmatist) ____________________
regarding knowledge because______________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
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______________________________________________________________________
Do any additional terms apply to Al-Ghazali, such as (a priori, innate ideas, aposteriori or
tabula rasa)?
____________________________________________________________
Explain why ____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Descartes
What does Descartes think is the basis for knowledge? _________________________
Descartes is a (absolute skeptic, common sense skeptic, or a methodical skeptic)
___________________ regarding knowledge because _________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
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Descartes is a (mystic, rationalist, empiricist, or a pragmatist) ____________________
regarding knowledge because______________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Do any additional terms apply to Descartes, such as (a priori, innate ideas, a posteriori
or tabula rasa)?
____________________________________________________________
Explain why ____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Hume
What does Hume think is the basis for knowledge? _____________________________
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Hume is a (absolute skeptic, common sense skeptic, or a methodical skeptic)
___________________ regarding knowledge because _________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Hume is a (mystic, rationalist, empiricist, or a pragmatist) _______________________
regarding knowledge because______________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Do any additional terms apply to Hume, such as (a priori, innate ideas, aposteriori or
tabula rasa)?
____________________________________________________________
Explain why ____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
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Willaim James
William K. Clifford is probable besti identified as a evendentialist which is a form of
absolute skeptic. How did this influence William James? _________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
What does James think is the basis for knowledge? _____________________________
James is a (absolute skeptic, common sense skeptic, or a methodical skeptic)
___________________ regarding knowledge because __________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
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James is a (mystic, rationalist, empiricist, or a pragmatist) ________________________
regarding knowledge
because_______________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Do any additional terms apply to James, such as (a priori, innate ideas, aposteriori or
tabula rasa)?
____________________________________________________________
Explain why ____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
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Part Three / Compare and Contrast
Do the following…
1. Below is a list of each philosopher paired with every other
philosopher.
2. Write what each believes is the basis for knowledge, along with a list
of the appropriate concepts.
3. Then use the concepts to compare what each philosopher believes
in a paragraph. I have done an example for you below.
List of Philosophers
1. Al-Ghazali
and
Descartes
2. Al-Ghazali
and
Hume
3. Al-Ghazali
and
James
4. Descartes
and
Hume
5. Descartes
and
James
6. Hume
and
James
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Example
Al-Ghazali
and
Descartes
Mysticism
Rationalism
Mystic
Rationalist
Methodical Skeptic
Methodical Skeptic
No additional terms
A priori and Innate Ideas
As you may have noticed this compare and contrast is much simpler than the ‘what is
really real?’ compare and contrast.
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Part 4 / Precise
The topic for this précis is one of the readings for the ‘Epistemology.’ The options are:
Al-Ghazali, Descartes, Hume or James. You may not read William Clifford’s reading for
the précis, but you should still read it as it is assigned.
Instructions
1. Read one of the readings from the book.
2. Fill out the précis form below or write it out in a paragraph
Sentence 1 (Who/What?)
__________________in the ______________, _______________________________
(Author’s Full Name)
(A-noun)
(Title of text)
_________________, _______________, that ___________________________
(B-verb)
(Point of Article/Book etc…)
_________________________________________________________________
Sentence 2 (How?)
_______________ supports his/her ____________ by ______________________
(Author’s Last Name)
(B-noun)
(C–verb / used as
gerund)
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Sentence 3 (Why?)
The author’s purpose is to _____________________________________________
(D-verb / used as infinitive)
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__________________________ in order to/so that ________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Sentence 4 (To Whom?)
The author writes in a _____________ style for___________________________
(E–adjective)
_________________________________________________________________
(his/her audience, the readers of)
and others interested in the topic of ___________________________________ .
(The point of the essay etc…)
Word Bank
These are merely suggestions. Feel free to use other words.
Section A
(news/magazine/
journal) article
book review, editorial,
first-hand report,
personal or
biographical essay,
biography,
research report
Section B
analyzes/analysis
argues/argument,
asserts/assertion,
discusses/discussion,
focuses on/focus
explains/explanation
Section C
comparing / contrasting
retelling, explaining,
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illustrating, defending,
demonstrating,
defining, describing,
listing, arguing, showing,
justifying, relating,
reporting, noting,
emphasizing, pointing
out, highlighting the fact
Section D
argue,
call attention to,
deny,
show,
point out,
prove
suggest,
inform,
persuade,
disclose,
report,
convince
Section E
(register/language)
formal, impersonal
casual, informal
(tone)
humorous,
emotional,
friendly,
reasoned,
logical,
exaggerated,
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