- The necessary/contingent distinction
- The a priori/a posteriori distinction
- The analytic/synthetic distinction
- The distinction between induction, deduction, truth and validity
- Introduction to the view that knowledge is innate plus associated examples; Plato (Forms), Descartes (God), Leibniz (Principles of logic) and Chomsky (Grammar) Criticisms of the innate knowledge thesis; Locke and Hume’s critique (children’s lack of innate principles and the ‘lack of universal assent’ critique/Hume’s ‘Adam’ example’
- Introduction to the view that knowledge is generated in experience; Locke, Hume and the tabula rasa approach to mind.
- Criticisms of the tabula rasa approach to knowledge; failure to account for knowledge of abstract terms (morality, identity, causation etc.), universals and the ‘organisational’ powers of the mind
- Recap of weaknesses of both innate and tabula rasa approach to mind
- Explanation of Kant’s ‘synthesis’ of reason and experience in knowledge acquisition
See also: Associated Essays:
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