PHIL 100W Lecture Notes - Empirical Evidence
28 Nov 2012
School
Department
Course
Professor
Nozick
- He wants certainty, so he is going to subject his beliefs to: the
method of doubt
- “Is it possible to doubt this belief?”
- “Could I be wrong?”
- If so, set the belief aside, as it is not foundational.
Descartes
- Beliefs that he can doubt are false.
- Descartes think that it is possible to doubt a belief, that belief is
false.
- He wants to suspend judgment “withhold assent” p.138
- Does he have to consider every belief he has individually? No.
- He considers types of beliefs.
A posteriori beliefs: ones that require sense experience for their
justification. Evidence of your sense.
A priori beliefs: ones that do not require sense experience for
their justification.
Applying the method of doubt to a posteriori beliefs.
- I am in lecture. Could this be false? Yes.
- What if I were dreaming?
- What if I were hallucinating?
- What if I were a BIV?
Applying the method of doubt to a priori beliefs.
- Could it be false that 2+3=5? If I am right in believing this, then I believe a
necessary truth. True in all possible worlds.
Document Summary
He wants certainty, so he is going to subject his beliefs to: the method of doubt. Is it possible to doubt this belief? . If so, set the belief aside, as it is not foundational. Beliefs that he can doubt are false. Descartes think that it is possible to doubt a belief, that belief is false. He wants to suspend judgment withhold assent p. 138. Applying the method of doubt to a posteriori beliefs. Applying the method of doubt to a priori beliefs. If i am right in believing this, then i believe a necessary truth. A priori beliefs: ones that do not require sense experience for.
