Reliabilism

What does reliabilism in its simplest form state about a belief?

• A belief is justified if it is produced by a reliable psychological process.

• A belief is justified if it is universally accepted.

• A belief is justified if it is supported by empirical evidence.

• A belief is justified if it is older than a century.

Answer explanation

A belief is justified if it is produced by a reliable psychological process.

Which of the following is considered a reliable process according to reliabilism?

• Flipping a coin

• Following superstitions

• Guesswork

• Identifying objects by visual observation

Answer explanation

Identifying objects by visual observation is considered a reliable process according to reliabilism.

What additional conditions are required for knowledge beyond justified belief in reliabilism?

• The belief must be true and exclude all serious alternatives.

• The belief must be proven scientifically.

• The belief must be documented in historical texts.

• The belief must be popular and widely accepted.

Answer explanation

In reliabilism, knowledge requires the belief to be true and exclude all serious alternatives, going beyond justified belief.

According to reliabilism, is knowledge of the reliability of a process necessary for a belief to be justified?

• No, beliefs are never justified based on their process.

• Yes, the agent must know the process is reliable.

• No, the belief can be justified without the agent knowing its reliability.

• Yes, but only in certain academic fields.

Answer explanation

No, the belief can be justified without the agent knowing its reliability.

What does reliabilism aim to secure knowledge against?

• Political influences

• Threats of scepticism

• Religious doctrines

• Cultural biases

Answer explanation

Reliabilism aims to secure knowledge against threats of scepticism, ensuring that beliefs are formed in a reliable manner.

Which example is used in reliabilism to illustrate a process that does not yield knowledge?

• Mathematical proof

• Logical deduction

• Scientific experimentation

• Accurate visual identification that does not exclude the presence of a twin

Answer explanation

In reliabilism, accurate visual identification that does not exclude the presence of a twin is used to illustrate a process that does not yield knowledge.

What type of epistemology is reliabilism classified under?

• Analytical epistemology

• Rationalistic epistemology

• Naturalistic epistemology

• Empirical epistemology

Answer explanation

Reliabilism is classified under naturalistic epistemology, which focuses on understanding knowledge in terms of natural processes and scientific methods.

Reliabilism is considered a species of which broader philosophical concept?

• Externalism

• Internalism

• Dualism

• Pragmatism

Answer explanation

Reliabilism is considered a species of Externalism, which is a broader philosophical concept encompassing various theories about the relationship between mental states and the external world.

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a justified belief under reliabilism?

• It must be produced by guesswork.

• It may itself be false.

• It is produced by a reliable process.

• It typically yields truths.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'It must be produced by guesswork' because justified beliefs under reliabilism are not based on guesswork but on reliable processes.

What does reliabilism substitute for the excessive requirements proposed by sceptics?

• Religious faith

• Stricter empirical evidence

• Philosophical doubt

• More moderate conditions

Answer explanation

Reliabilism substitutes for the excessive requirements proposed by sceptics by introducing more moderate conditions, rather than stricter empirical evidence or philosophical doubt.