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Module 1: Knowledge and Doubt Theory of Knowledge What do we know? How do we know it? The nature and extent of our knowledge are fundamental issues in Philosophy and this theme raises questions concerning our right to the beliefs that we have, how we acquire them and whether we can take them to be knowledge. |
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Empiricism and Rationalism
Rationalism:
Reason as the source of our knowledge, as justification for our beliefs
and as the source of our conceptual apparatus. A priori knowledge.
Empiricism: Experience as the source of our knowledge of concepts and propositions, and the means by which we justify our beliefs. A posteriori knowledge. The limitations of each: scepticism concerning the nature and extent of empirical and rational knowledge. Key Concepts: A Priori, A Posteriori |
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Knowledge and Justification How can we justify our beliefs? What role does certainty have, measured against utility, probability, reasonableness, coherence, and explanatory power in the justification of knowledge? Believing-that and Knowing-that: evidence and degrees of justification. Reliabilism, coherence and foundationalism as grounds of justification: the problem of infinite regress. The tripartite definition of knowledge: truth, belief and justification. Problems in the application of this definition. |
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Knowledge and Scepticism What is distinctive about philosophical doubt? What is the role of doubt in the search for knowledge? The difference between ordinary doubt and philosophical doubt. Scepticism concerning knowledge and belief. The extent of scepticism, whether global scepticism is possible. Sceptical arguments concerning our perceptual knowledge: arguments from illusion, deception, dreaming. |
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Knowledge of the External World Do we experience the the external world directly? Or is our experience mediated? This section raises epistemological questions about theories of perception. Realism: naive realism and representative realism. Whether our experience of the world is direct or mediated by subjective representations (sense-data) of the external world. Idealism: that which is immediately perceived are ideas, which exist only in the mind. Phenomenalism: whether physical object statements can be analysed in terms of statements describing sensory experience. |
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Module 2: Moral Philosophy What is 'the good for man'? Which ideals and ends should we pursue and why? What makes our actions right or wrong? Is there anything that we should value, even if we don't? What do we mean when we say something ought or ought not to be done? Are there any moral truths or are there simply our tastes and preferences? This theme raises questions concerning our moral concepts and beliefs. |
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Normative Ethics Can 'first principles' governing what is right, what we ought to do or how we ought to live, be successfully established? Deontological views: certain acts are right or wrong in themselves, our awareness of what is right and our duty to act rightly is given by divine command or reason. Utilitarianism: acts are right or wrong to the extent that they maximise pleasures or minimise suffering. Positive, negative and preference utilitarianism. Ideal and hedonistic utilitarianism. Act and rule utilitarianism. Virtue theory: the focus on how we should live, the cultivation of virtues and flourishing. |
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Practical Ethics Concepts and theories gained in the study of normative ethics should also be useful in addressing issues in this section. Issues concern when, if ever, and why it is permissible to kill. Euthanasia: voluntary, involuntary and non-voluntary; active and passive. When, if at all, is euthanasia justified? Abortion: what is the moral status of the foetus, and how is demarcation between fertilised egg, foetus, infant and adult possible? On what grounds, if any, is abortion permissible? Animal Rights: on what grounds, if any, should non-human animals be included in our moral thinking and with what consequences? |
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Module 3 Texts: Plato 'The Republic' (Book V to Book VII) The theory of Forms; metaphysical, ethical and epistemological implications. Knowledge, belief and ignorance - reasons for making these distinctions. The natural qualities of the Philosopher, his love of truth, his fitness to rule. The status of Philosophers, simile of the ship. Critique of (Athenian) democracy, similiesof the ship and the beast. Plato's account of the Good, the Form of the Good and its relation to other Forms. The similies of the Sun, the Cave and the Divided Line. The relation of the Good to Knowledge - ethical implications.
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General Links Past examination paper June 2001
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