Epistemology — Five-Mark Model Answers
Paper 1 — 46 five-mark questions across 4 topics
Analysis of Knowledge
9 questions
Explain the distinction between acquaintance knowledge, ability knowledge and propositional knowledge.
Explain the nature of definition (Linda Zagzebski) and how propositional knowledge may be analysed.
Explain the tripartite view of knowledge.
Explain the criticism against the tripartite view of knowledge that the conditions are not individually necessary.
Explain how one of Gettier's original counter-examples shows that the conditions of the tripartite view of knowledge are not jointly sufficient.
Explain how strengthening the justification condition (infallibilism) constitutes a response to Gettier's criticism of the tripartite view of knowledge.
Explain how adding a 'no false lemmas' condition constitutes a response to Gettier's criticism of the tripartite view of knowledge.
Explain reliabilism.
Explain virtue epistemology.
Perception
19 questions
Explain direct realism.
Explain the argument from illusion against direct realism.
Explain the argument from perceptual variation against direct realism.
Explain the argument from hallucination against direct realism.
Explain the time-lag argument against direct realism.
Explain indirect realism.
Explain Locke's primary/secondary quality distinction.
Explain the criticism against indirect realism that it leads to scepticism about the existence of mind-independent objects.
Explain how Locke's argument from the involuntary nature of our experience is a response to the sceptical criticism against indirect realism.
Explain how the argument from the coherence of various kinds of experience (Locke and Cockburn) is a response to the sceptical criticism against indirect realism.
Explain how Russell's claim that the external world is the 'best hypothesis' is a response to the sceptical criticism against indirect realism.
Explain Berkeley's argument against indirect realism that we cannot know the nature of mind-independent objects because mind-independent ideas cannot be like mind-independent objects.
Explain Berkeley's idealism.
Explain how Berkeley argues for his idealism by attacking the primary / secondary quality distinction.
Explain how Berkeley argues for his idealism with his 'Master' argument.
Explain how the argument from illusion undermines Berkeley's idealism.
Explain how the argument from hallucination undermines Berkeley's idealism.
Explain the issue that idealism leads to solipsism.
Explain the problems with the role played by God in Berkeley's idealism.
Reason and Knowledge (Innatism, Intuition & Deduction)
11 questions
Explain innatism.
Explain two of Locke's arguments against innatism.
Explain the empiricist idea that the mind is a 'tabula rasa'.
Explain the intuition and deduction thesis.
Explain Descartes' notion of 'clear and distinct ideas'.
Explain Descartes' cogito as an example of an a priori intuition.
Explain how one of Descartes' arguments for the existence of God is an example of an a priori deduction.
Explain how Descartes' proof of the external world is an example of an a priori deduction.
Explain empiricist responses to Descartes' cogito.
Explain how Hume's Fork might be applied to one of Descartes' arguments for the existence of God.
Explain how Hume's Fork might be applied to Descartes' proof of the existence of the external world.
Scepticism
7 questions
Explain the difference between philosophical scepticism and normal incredulity.
Explain the role/function of philosophical scepticism within epistemology.
Explain the distinction between local and global scepticism.
Explain Descartes' sceptical arguments (the three 'waves of doubt').
Explain Descartes' response to scepticism.
Explain empiricist responses to scepticism.
Explain the reliabilist response to scepticism.
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