Epistemology definitions quiz

What is a priori knowledge?

• Knowledge that you're certain of

• Knowledge that you don't need proof of in order to know

• Knowledge that you do need proof of in order to know

• Knowledge no one can every really know for certain

What is a synthetic statement?

• A statement that is fake, or false

• A statement that you cannot be certain of

• A statement based on sensory experience

• A statement about synthetics

What is a necessary truth?

• Something you need to know in order to know something else

• Something only true sometimes

• Something true when it is necessary

• Something that is always true (often definitionally)

Which of these statements are examples of a paradox? (tick all that apply)

• If there’s one thing that I know, it’s that I don’t know anything at all.

• I hate wearing jackets in cold weather.

• I am a compulsive liar.

• One must be cruel to be kind

Which of these would be a good definition of justification?

• Giving a personal opinion on why something has happened

• Comforting someone by saying that we "can't know God's plans"

• Giving an irrefutable (and often factual) reason why something has happened

What is the key principle of "Ockham's Razor"?

• Slicing away at someone's beliefs to destroy them is how you gain eventual philosophical truth

• Often the simplest answer is the correct one

• The line between "right" and "wrong" is razor thin

• Philosophy, like a razor, can be used for good or evil

What does "begging the question" mean?

• Saying something that obviously highlights another issue/ question to be raised

• Purposely avoiding answering a specific problem or question

• When an argument assumes that its conclusion is already correct in order to make its initial point

• Really wanting to ask something but being unable to

An argument which is first based on an observation, then considered through theory, to finally be given an infallible paradigm, is called what?

• Deductive

• Inductive

• Abductive

An argument which uses observations first to make a "rough" or "most likely" and simple conclusion is called what?

• Deductive

• Abductive

• Inductive

An argument which first establishes a theory, then tests said theory, before coming to a solid conclusion is called what?

• Deductive

• Abductive

• Inductive