Key Terms
Conceptual analysis
Identifying the necessary and sufficient conditions for a concept. You are not just defining a word; you are isolating w
Counterexample
A case that shows a definition or argument is flawed. In epistemology these are usually hypothetical scenarios (thought
Correspondence theory of truth
A statement is true if and only if it corresponds to a fact (an actual state of affairs in the world). "The cat is on th
S knows P if and only if
1. P is true 2.
Key insight
Belief, truth, and justification can all be present and still fall short of knowledge when truth is accidental.
Two key points before anything else
1. Justification makes a belief more LIKELY to be true; not guaranteed true
Philosophical skepticism
The view that some or all knowledge is impossible. Not everyday doubt; a formal philosophical position.
GLOBAL SKEPTIC
Rejects the possibility of knowledge in general. LOCAL
SKEPTIC
Doubts knowledge only in a specific domain (morality, religion, science).
Structure of every global skeptical argument
1. If I cannot rule out the possibility of SH, then I cannot be justified in believing P.
Applied epistemology
Takes epistemological tools and applies them to current social issues and practices. Often works at the collective or sy
Traditional epistemology
Focused on individual knowers. Social epistemology: investigates how groups form beliefs; how individuals form beliefs i
Core insight
Almost no knowledge is purely individual. Scientific knowledge builds across generations; school-based propositional kno
Core claim
Social power dynamics influence whose perspectives are treated as reliable and whose are ignored. Excluding entire group
Example
Early heart disease research was conducted primarily on male subjects; symptoms in women (jaw pain, nausea) were not doc