Epistemology Examples & Types - Video & Lesson Transcript

Epistemology is the study of knowledge acquisition. It involves an awareness of certain aspects of reality, and it seeks to discover what is ... forTeachers forSchools forWorkingScholars® forCollegeCredit LogIn SignUp Menu forWorkingScholars® forCollegeCredit Plans Plans Courses Courses FindCoursesbySubject Science Math Business Psychology History English SocialScience Humanities Spanish ProfessionalDevelopment ByEducationLevel College HighSchool MiddleSchool TestPrep PopularTests… PopularTests SAT ACT TOEFL GMAT GRE CLEP GED ASVAB RealEstate TeacherCertification… TeacherCertification AEPA CEOE CSET/CBEST FTCE GACE ILTS MTEL MTLE MTTC MoGEA/MEGA NES NYSTCE OAE Praxis RICA TExES VCLA WEST Nursing… NursingTests HESI TEAS NCLEX PAXRN CNE OtherTests… OtherTests AP ASCP ASWB Accuplacer CHSPE CTEL DSST Finance FSA HSPT ISEE MBLEx NCE PERT PHR SHSAT TASC TECEP UExcel Exploreover 4,600 videocourses BrowseAllCourses SAT ACT TOEFL GMAT GRE CLEP GED ASVAB RealEstate AEPA CEOE CSET/CBEST FTCE GACE ILTS MTEL MTLE MTTC MoGEA/MEGA NES NYSTCE OAE Praxis RICA TExES VCLA WEST HESI TEAS NCLEX PAXRN CNE AP ASCP ASWB Accuplacer CHSPE CTEL DSST Finance FSA HSPT ISEE MBLEx NCE PERT PHR SHSAT TASC TECEP UExcel Credit Credit CreditOptions CreditOptions OnlineCollegeCredit HighSchool&GED CertificatesofCompletion HowitWorks TransferCredit TransferCredit AllTransferCredit FindYourSchool CollegeCoursesforCredit TransferringCredit HowItWorks EarnTransferableCredit&GetyourDegreefast Learnmore ContactSupport Copyright Lesson Transcript SashaBlakeley,CirreliaThaxton,KaitlynDanahy Author SashaBlakeley SashaBlakeleyhasaBachelor'sinEnglishLiteraturefromMcGillUniversityandaTEFLcertification.ShehasbeenteachingEnglishinCanadaandTaiwanforsevenyears. Viewbio Instructor CirreliaThaxton CirreliaisaneducatorwhohastaughtK-12andhasadoctorateineducation. Viewbio ExpertContributor KaitlynDanahy Katehasabachelor'sdegreeinliterature&creativewritingfromGordonCollege.Shetaughthighschoolliterature,philosophy,andwritinginIndiaandhastutoredforthesamesubjectsintheUS. Viewbio Whatisepistemology?Learntheepistemologydefinitionandseeepistemologyexamples.Learnthetypesofepistemology.LearnaboutKant'sepistemology. Updated:05/12/2021 TableofContentsWhatisEpistemology?TypesofEpistemologyEpistemologyExamplesIssuesinEpistemologyStructureofKnowledgeFiveDistinctionsofEpistemologyLessonSummaryShow Createanaccount WhatisEpistemology?Whatisepistemology?Epistemologyisoneoftheprimarybranchesofphilosophy.Itisthestudyofwhatknowledgeisandhowhumanscanacquireknowledgeofreality:howdoweknowwhatweknow?Epistemologyisanimportantacademicdisciplinewithconnectionsnotonlytophilosophybutalsotothingslikecognitivescience,historiography,andevenquantummechanics.EpistemologyDefinitionTheword''epistemology''comesfromtheGreekepisteme,meaningknowledge,andlogos,meaningreasonorargument.Etymologically,therefore,epistemologyisthestudyofknowledge:whatitis,howitisacquired,andwhatitslimitationsare.ManyhighlyinfluentialphilosophersdatingbackatleastasfarasancientGreecehavecreatedtheoriesofepistemologythatinfluencephilosophytoday. DefiningEpistemologyEpistemologyisthestudyofknowledgeacquisition.Itinvolvesanawarenessofcertainaspectsofreality,anditseekstodiscoverwhatisknownandhowitisknown.Consideredasabranchofphilosophy,epistemologyaddressescognitivesciences,culturalstudiesandthehistoryofscience.Moreover,epistemologyexplainswhyourmindsrelatetorealityandhowtheserelationshipsareeithervalidorinvalid.Itisneededinordertodistinguishbetweenthetruthandfalsehoodasweobtainknowledgefromtheworldaroundus.Epistemologyencompassestheconstructionofconcepts,thenatureofconditionsandthevalidityofthesenses.Becausethestudyofepistemologyenablesustothinkaboutthewaywethink,itisausefulmethodforevaluatingtheworldaroundus.Accordingly,withoutepistemology,humanbeingswouldhavenoreasontobelieveintheirthoughtsandactions.Teacherswouldhavenoreasontogivetestsorassignclassworkbecausetherewouldbenodifferencebetweentruthanderror.Weneedepistemologyinordertoacceptrealityandliveourlivesinsuccessfulpursuitoftruth.Oneofthemajorquestionsthatweaskis:wheredoesknowledgecomefrom?Manyphilosophershavesupposedthatknowledgecomesfromreason.Thus,humanshavetheabilitytoreason,and,therefore,theyhavethepowertoknow.Conversely,otherphilosophershavecontendedthathumansonlybecomeknowledgeablewhentheyexperiencelifesituations,suchaswatchingamovieorplayinganinstrument.Thesephilosophersinsistthatmancanonlylearnwhenheexperienceslifethroughhisownsenses.Further,thereisatheologically-drivenconceptofknowledge,whichsuggeststhatknowledgeisaGod-givencondition.Thissuggestionpertainstodivinerevelationandtendstoblurthelinebetweenbeliefandknowledge,sincetherearemanydifferentreligions. Anerroroccurredtryingtoloadthisvideo. Tryrefreshingthepage,orcontactcustomersupport. YoumustcCreateanaccounttocontinue watching Registertoviewthislesson Areyouastudentorateacher? Iamastudent Iamateacher CreateYourAccountToContinueWatching Asamember,you'llalsogetunlimitedaccesstoover84,000 lessonsinmath,English,science,history,andmore.Plus,getpracticetests,quizzes,andpersonalizedcoachingtohelpyou succeed. Getunlimitedaccesstoover84,000lessons. Tryitnow Itonlytakesafewminutestosetupandyoucancancelanytime. Alreadyregistered?Loginherefor access  Back WhatteachersaresayingaboutStudy.com Tryitnow Alreadyregistered? Loginhereforaccess Comingupnext: EpistemologyandtheTruevs.MetaphysicsandtheReal You'reonaroll.Keepupthegoodwork! TakeQuiz Watch NextLesson  Replay Justcheckingin.Areyoustillwatching? Yes!Keepplaying. Yournextlessonwillplayin 10seconds 0:01DefiningEpistemology 2:07ExamplesofEpistemology 3:36LessonSummary Save Save Save Wanttowatchthisagainlater? 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LoginorSignup Timeline Autoplay Autoplay Speed Speed 250Kviews Video Quiz Course 250K views TypesofEpistemologyThereareseveraldifferenttypesofepistemology,orrather,severaldifferentapproachestoepistemologicalinquiry.Whiletherearemanyspecificnamesfortheseapproaches,epistemologycanbebroadlydividedintotwomainschoolsofthought:empiricismandrationalism.Mostphilosopherswhohavestudiedepistemologyhavebeenultimatelysupportiveofoneoftheseschoolsofthoughtovertheother.Whileempiricismemphasizestheabilityofhumanstolearnaboutrealityusingtheirsenses,rationalismarguesthatknowledgecomesfromrationalthoughtratherthanfromtheexternalworld.Plato:EpistemologyPlatowasoneofthefirstphilosopherstodiscusswhatlaterbecameknownasepistemology.ForPlato,epistemologywasawaytotryandunderstandwhattheworldreallyisandhowpeoplerelatetoit.Plato'smostfamoustextsdiscussinghistheoryofknowledgearehisPhaedoandhisRepublic.Platowasskepticalabouthumans'abilitytoacquireknowledgeoftherealworldthroughtheirsenses,believingthatthephysicalworldwasmerelyarepresentationofanotherrealmthathecalledtheRealmofForms.ForPlato,Formsweretheultimate,unchanging,andperfectversionsofideasandobjects.Forexample,anytrianglethatapersonmightdrawinthePhysicalRealmwouldbeamererepresentationoftheFormoftheTriangle.Plato'sfamousAllegoryoftheCavegoesintodetailabouthowthisdichotomybetweenrealmsworksandhowitcontributestohumanknowledge.Aristotle:EpistemologyForAristotle,epistemologywasnotthemostimportantbranchofphilosophy.Hebecamebetterknownforhistheoriesofethicsandaesthetics.However,AristotledidbuildonPlato'swork,withaparticularemphasisonlogicandrhetoric.Hecodifiedseveralformsoflogicandexplainedhowrhetoriccouldbeusedtoreachclearconclusions.Thismethodbecamefoundationalforalargenumberofphilosopherswhowishedtoexploreepistemologythroughlogicallyconsistentmethodology.Descartes:Epistemology Descartespromotedarationalistviewofepistemology RenéDescartesisstillknownforhismajorcontributionstoepistemologyandtorationalisminparticular.UnlikePlatoandAristotle,Descarteswasaradicalskepticwhobeganbydoubtingeveryfacetofrealitytoseeifanythingwouldlogicallyremainirrefutablewhenhedidso.Hecametotheconclusionthattheonlythingthathecouldnotdoubtaboutrealitywashisownexistence,famouslycoiningthephrasecogitoergosum,or''Ithink,thereforeIam''toexplainhisrelationshiptoknowledge.Takingthepositionthathissensoryexperiencescouldalwaysbedoubted,Descartesbuiltuphisepistemologicalframeworkfromtheperspectivethathecouldnotdoubthisownexistenceandthat,becauseofhisbeliefinabenevolentGod,hecouldtrusthisownabilitytohaverationalthought.Kant:EpistemologyImmanuelKanthadoneofthemostunusualandchallengingviewsofepistemologyinthehistoryofphilosophy.Insomeways,hisviewharkenedbacktoPlato'searlyepistemology.Kantarguedthatwhenpeopleperceivetheworldtheyareonlyseeingtheappearanceofthings,ratherthanthingsastheyreallyare.Hearguedthatspace,time,color,andtheotherfacetsofexistencethatmostpeopletakeforgrantedareactuallyprojectionsthatindividualsoverlayonrealitytomakeitmorecomprehensible.InKant'sepistemology,realityiscreatedbyandexistswithinhumanswhoperceiveit,ratherthanbeinganexternalandunchangingtruth.EpistemologyExamplesFormostmodernphilosophers,epistemologyhasbeendiscussedtothepointwhereithasbeennarroweddowntothreemajorcriteriathatmustbesatisfiedtoensurethatabeliefcanbeconsideredknowledge.Thesecriteriaare: Belief:Someonecannotreasonablybesaidtoknowsomethingiftheydonotbelieveittobetrue. Truth:Ifsomeonebelievessomethingthatisfalse,theydonotknowitasafact;theyaremistaken. Justification:Someonemusthavereasonablejustificationforwhattheybelieveinorderfortheirbelieftobetrueknowledge. Anexampleofthesethreecriteriainactionmightbe:JohnknowsthattherearecowsinhisfriendFrank'sfield.ThiscanreasonablybeconsideredsomethingthatJohnknows,because: Hebelievesittobetrue(belief). Therereallyarecowsinthefield(truth). JohnsawcowsinthefieldashewasdrivinguptoFrank'sfarm(justification). EdmundGettierproposedanunusualthoughtexperimenttoexploreepistemology Thisisaclassicepistemologyexamplethatusesacombinationofempiricalandrationalknowledgetocometoajustifiedandtruebelief.IssuesinEpistemologyEpistemologyisacomplexfieldofstudyandmanyphilosophershavequestionedelementsofeventhemostacceptedpartsofepistemologicalarguments.Thereareseveralmajorissuesinepistemologythatcontinuetobediscussedbyphilosopherstoday.TheFourthCriterionForalongtime,thethreecriteriaforknowledgeasoutlinedabovewereacceptedasacompletepictureofknowledge.EdmundGettierproposedathoughtexperimentthatcastdoubtonwhetherthesecriteriaweresufficient.HisthoughtexperimentexpandsonJohnandFrankandthefieldofcows.ImaginethatJohnarrivesatFrank'sfarm,secureinhisknowledgethatthereareindeedcowsinFrank'sfield.Whenhearrives,however,FrankinformsJohnthatwhiletherearecowsinthefield,theyarehiddeninashadedgrovefarfromtheviewoftheroad.WhatJohnactuallysawandmistookforcowswerescarecrowsshapedlikecows.Johndidhavejustifiedtruebelief,buthisjustificationturnedouttobebasedonafalsehood.Sincethisthoughtexperimentwasproposed,philosophershavebeentryingtodeterminewhatfourthcriterionforknowledgemightprovideaworkaroundforunusualsituationslikethisone. KnowledgeoftheExternalWorldEmpiricismisthebranchofepistemologythatreliesonthesensestounderstandreality.Buthowcanhumansknowthattheirsensescanbetrusted?Afterall,itisclearthathumansensesarenotinfallible.Forexample,humansensescanbetrickedorlimited: Humanscanonlyseeasmallspectrumoflight;otherlightwavesareinvisiblebutstillexist.Thesameistrueofsoundfrequencies. Humansexperiencetemperaturerelativetotheirownbodytemperature:puttingone'shandinabucketofhotwaterwillmaketepidwaterfeelmuchcolderthanitmightotherwisefeel. Opticalillusionscaneasilyconfusethehumanbrainandmakerealityhardertoparse. How,then,canpeopletrusttheirsensesasameasureofreality?Someepistemologistsarguethatthistrustisimpossible;thesearethestrictrationalistswhodonotwanttorelyonthesensesforanyknowledge.Someothersareindirectrealistswhoclaimthatwhilethesensescannotbeentirelytrusted,theyarenottobeentirelydismissedeither.KnowledgeoftheOther-MindMostepistemologistsagreethatpeoplecanknowthingsabouttheirownminds,justlikeDescartes'etymologyargumentstated.However,howcanpeopleknowaboutthemindsofothers?Itisimpossibletoempiricallyknowaboutotherpeople'sinternalexperiences,anditisequallydifficulttogettherethroughrationalmeans.Therehavebeenseveralattemptstoresolvethisprobleminepistemology.Oneissolipsism,orthebeliefthatone'sownmindistheonlyonethatactuallyexistsandthatotherpeoplearemerelyfigmentsorconstructsofone'simagination.Whilesolipsismisinteresting,itisnotwidelyaccepted.Otherphilosophers,likeGottfriedLeibniz,havearguedthatthereisnopossiblewaytogainanyknowledgeofthemindsofothers.Leibniztookanunusuallystrongpositiononthis.Hedescribedindividuals'mindsandexperiencesas''monads''andarguedthatexperiencinganythingoutsideofone'sownmonadisimpossible:hefamouslysaidthat''monadsarewindowless.''StructureofKnowledgeEpistemologistshavelongbeentryingtodeterminehowexactlybeliefsrelatetooneanother.Therearetwomainschoolsofthoughtthatseektooutlinehowbeliefsinteract:foundationalismandcoherentism.FoundationalismFoundationalismarguesthatsomebeliefscanbeknownindependentlyofallothers,likeDescartes'beliefthatheexisted,andthatthesefoundationalbeliefscanbebuiltuponthroughinferences.Forinstance,ifDescartesknewthatheexistedandtheninferredthatotherpeoplealsoexisted,thiswouldbeawayofpracticingfoundationalisminhisunderstandingofhisownknowledge.CoherentismCoherentismarguesthatfoundationalbeliefsarerareandhardtojustify.Instead,itarguesforabeliefsysteminwhichallelementsofbeliefarecontingentononeanother;theyallcohereintoasinglesystem.Mostpeoplepracticecoherentismeveniftheyarenotawareofit,asthisisessentiallythestandardwaythatpeopleformtheirbeliefsabouttheworld.FiveDistinctionsofEpistemologyTherearefivemajordistinctionsinepistemologythatformdichotomiesbetweenimportanttopics.Understandingthefivedistinctionsisessentialtounderstandingtheargumentsofmanyphilosophers.Thesedistinctionsarebetween: Mentalandnonmentalknowledge:is''knowing''amentalstate,orisitsomethingcategoricallydifferentfrom''believing''or''beingsure''? Occasionalanddispositionalknowledge:occasionalknowledgeisknowledgepeopleareconsciouslyawareof,whiledispositionalknowledgeisapredispositionorleaningtowardcertainkindsofbeliefs. Aprioriandaposterioriknowledge:aprioriknowledgeisrationallycertaininitself,whileaposterioriknowlegereliesonacceptanceofcertainprinciples. Descriptionandjustification:epistemologyseekstobothdescriberealityaccuratelyandtojustifyitsdescriptionsandassumptionsaboutreality. Knowledgeandcertainty:arethesethesamething?Ifnot,howaretheydifferent? Philosophersusethesedichotomiesfrequentlyandoftendebatethemwhenmakingclaimsaboutepistemology.LessonSummaryEpistemologyisabranchofphilosophythatisessentiallythestudyofknowledgeacquisition.Essentially,itseekstoanswerthequestion,''Wheredoesknowledgecomefrom?''Epistemologyisausefuldisciplinebecauseitallowshumanstoevaluatetheworldandtheirownthoughts.Majorepistemologiststhroughouthistoryinclude: Plato Aristotle RenéDescartes ImmanuelKant GottfriedLeibniz EdmundGettier Thethreecriteriaofknowledgeinepistemologyarebelief,truth,andjustification.Ajustifiedtruebeliefisusuallyconsideredknowledge.Therearestillmanyproblemsinepistemologythatphilosopherscontinuetodebatetothisday. ExamplesofEpistemologyTherearethreemainexamplesorconditionsofepistemology:truth,beliefandjustification.Firstofall,truthoccurswhenfalsepropositionscannotbediscerned.Consequently,inorderforsomethingtobeconsideredasknowledge,itmustbetrueinnature.Also,thetruthmustoriginatefromreliablesourcesandbebasedonfidelitytothestandard.Forexample,aliecannotbetruthbecauseitisnotfactualandfalse. Secondly,beliefisthestateinwhichsomeoneacceptssomethingastrue.Forexample,astudentofmathknowsthatrightanglesequal90degrees,andthisbeliefisbasedonfactualtruth.Ontheotherhand,whenbeliefsoriginateinsourcesbasedonpsychologicalfactors,suchasprejudice,desire,emotionalneedandbias,theydonotqualifyasknowledge.Yet,whensourcesofbelief,suchasmemory,reasonandtestimonyarereliable,theyareformsofknowledge.Lastly,justification,thethirdconditionofepistemology,istheactofshowingthatsomethingisreasonableorright.Forexample,achildwholiesaboutdoinghomeworkfeelsjustified,becausehefeelsitisrighttoavoidbeingpunishedbyhisparents.Anotionisjustifiedwhenapersonhasevidencetosupporthisorherclaim.Thisleadstothestatementthatanybeliefmustbebothtrueandjustified.LessonSummaryEpistemologyisthestudyofknowledge.Threeepistemologicalfactorsthatcontributetoknowledgeacquisitionaretruth,beliefandjustification.Truthisanoccurrenceinwhichtherearenofalsepropositions.Beliefistheacceptanceinsomethingasbeingtrue.Justificationisanactionofdemonstratingthatsomethingisrightandreasonable.Epistemologyhelpspeopletothinkaboutlifeexperiencesthatleadtowell-being.Epistemology,whenproperlydefined,isbasedonreasoning,whichisthemethodforacquiringknowledge.Inturn,knowledgepertainstothefactsthatareabsoluteandcanneverbefalse.Knowledgeitselfcanbedefinedas'justifiedtruebelief'.Consequently,epistemologyisusefulasastudyofhowmanlocatesknowledgeandusesitforthebettermentofsociety.LearningOutcomesAfteryouhavefinished,youcan: Explainwhatepistemologyisandwhyitisimportant Nameanddescribethethreefactorsthatcontributetoknowledge Outlinethedebateoverthesourceofknowledge TounlockthislessonyoumustbeaStudy.comMember. Createyouraccount VideoTranscript DefiningEpistemologyEpistemologyisthestudyofknowledgeacquisition.Itinvolvesanawarenessofcertainaspectsofreality,anditseekstodiscoverwhatisknownandhowitisknown.Consideredasabranchofphilosophy,epistemologyaddressescognitivesciences,culturalstudiesandthehistoryofscience.Moreover,epistemologyexplainswhyourmindsrelatetorealityandhowtheserelationshipsareeithervalidorinvalid.Itisneededinordertodistinguishbetweenthetruthandfalsehoodasweobtainknowledgefromtheworldaroundus.Epistemologyencompassestheconstructionofconcepts,thenatureofconditionsandthevalidityofthesenses.Becausethestudyofepistemologyenablesustothinkaboutthewaywethink,itisausefulmethodforevaluatingtheworldaroundus.Accordingly,withoutepistemology,humanbeingswouldhavenoreasontobelieveintheirthoughtsandactions.Teacherswouldhavenoreasontogivetestsorassignclassworkbecausetherewouldbenodifferencebetweentruthanderror.Weneedepistemologyinordertoacceptrealityandliveourlivesinsuccessfulpursuitoftruth.Oneofthemajorquestionsthatweaskis:wheredoesknowledgecomefrom?Manyphilosophershavesupposedthatknowledgecomesfromreason.Thus,humanshavetheabilitytoreason,and,therefore,theyhavethepowertoknow.Conversely,otherphilosophershavecontendedthathumansonlybecomeknowledgeablewhentheyexperiencelifesituations,suchaswatchingamovieorplayinganinstrument.Thesephilosophersinsistthatmancanonlylearnwhenheexperienceslifethroughhisownsenses.Further,thereisatheologically-drivenconceptofknowledge,whichsuggeststhatknowledgeisaGod-givencondition.Thissuggestionpertainstodivinerevelationandtendstoblurthelinebetweenbeliefandknowledge,sincetherearemanydifferentreligions. ExamplesofEpistemologyTherearethreemainexamplesorconditionsofepistemology:truth,beliefandjustification.Firstofall,truthoccurswhenfalsepropositionscannotbediscerned.Consequently,inorderforsomethingtobeconsideredasknowledge,itmustbetrueinnature.Also,thetruthmustoriginatefromreliablesourcesandbebasedonfidelitytothestandard.Forexample,aliecannotbetruthbecauseitisnotfactualandfalse. Secondly,beliefisthestateinwhichsomeoneacceptssomethingastrue.Forexample,astudentofmathknowsthatrightanglesequal90degrees,andthisbeliefisbasedonfactualtruth.Ontheotherhand,whenbeliefsoriginateinsourcesbasedonpsychologicalfactors,suchasprejudice,desire,emotionalneedandbias,theydonotqualifyasknowledge.Yet,whensourcesofbelief,suchasmemory,reasonandtestimonyarereliable,theyareformsofknowledge.Lastly,justification,thethirdconditionofepistemology,istheactofshowingthatsomethingisreasonableorright.Forexample,achildwholiesaboutdoinghomeworkfeelsjustified,becausehefeelsitisrighttoavoidbeingpunishedbyhisparents.Anotionisjustifiedwhenapersonhasevidencetosupporthisorherclaim.Thisleadstothestatementthatanybeliefmustbebothtrueandjustified.LessonSummaryEpistemologyisthestudyofknowledge.Threeepistemologicalfactorsthatcontributetoknowledgeacquisitionaretruth,beliefandjustification.Truthisanoccurrenceinwhichtherearenofalsepropositions.Beliefistheacceptanceinsomethingasbeingtrue.Justificationisanactionofdemonstratingthatsomethingisrightandreasonable.Epistemologyhelpspeopletothinkaboutlifeexperiencesthatleadtowell-being.Epistemology,whenproperlydefined,isbasedonreasoning,whichisthemethodforacquiringknowledge.Inturn,knowledgepertainstothefactsthatareabsoluteandcanneverbefalse.Knowledgeitselfcanbedefinedas'justifiedtruebelief'.Consequently,epistemologyisusefulasastudyofhowmanlocatesknowledgeandusesitforthebettermentofsociety.LearningOutcomesAfteryouhavefinished,youcan: Explainwhatepistemologyisandwhyitisimportant Nameanddescribethethreefactorsthatcontributetoknowledge Outlinethedebateoverthesourceofknowledge TounlockthislessonyoumustbeaStudy.comMember. Createyouraccount AdditionalActivities HowDoYouKnowThat? Inthisexercise,youwillevaluateaseriesofscenarios.Onewillbereason-based,oneexperiential-based,andonetheologically/ethicallybased.Youwillhavetoaskyourselfwhethertheclaimistrue,whetheryoubelieveit,andthenjustifywhyyoubelieveordonotbelieveitand/orsayitistrueornottrue. Reason: SomeonewithbloodtypeO-candonatetoanyoneinneedofabloodtransfusion. Experience: Donatingbloodisgenerallysafe. Theological/Ethical: Adoctorhasfivepatients(anotherdoctor,ayoungmother,astudent,apolitician,andanengineer)whowillalldiethatdayiftheydonotreceiveaneededorgan.Allofthemarethesamerarebloodtype.Ahealthywomanarrivesatthehospital.Sheistherightbloodtype:shecouldprovidealiver,kidneys,lungs,andhearttosaveallthesepatients.Theclaimisthatitisnotmorallypermissibletokillthewomantosavethefivepatients. ReasonAnswer: Thisclaimisscientificallytrue.You(should)believeit.Thejustificationforthisbeliefmaycomethroughvariousscientificstudies,livesthathavebeensaved,O-bloodismissingbothAandBantigensaswellastheRHfactorandthereforecontainsnothingthatapersonwithanotherbloodtypecouldnottolerate,etc.Thus,youknowthatsomeonewithbloodtypeO-candonatetoanyoneinneedofabloodtransfusion. ExperienceAnswer: Thisclaimistruethankstoitsgeneralization.You(should)believeit.Thejustificationisagainthroughvariousscientificstudiesofpeoples'experiences;however,experienceisnotuniversal.Therefore,tosayitisalwayssafewouldmakethisclaimnottrue. Theological/EthicalAnswer: Mostpeoplewillagreethatitisnotmorallypermissibletokillthewoman.Thereasonsmostbelievethisarenotnecessarilylogicalorreasoned,butmostpeoplewillstillsaytheyknowthatthiswouldbewrongandbelieveitiswrong.Justificationsmayincludebeliefsaboutthevalueofhumanlife,empathythroughexperience,etc. Registertoviewthislesson Areyouastudentorateacher? Iamastudent Iamateacher UnlockYourEducation Seeforyourselfwhy30millionpeopleuseStudy.com BecomeaStudy.commemberandstartlearningnow. BecomeaMember Alreadyamember?LogIn  Back WhatteachersaresayingaboutStudy.com Tryitnow Alreadyregistered? Loginhereforaccess Createanaccount EpistemologyExamples&Types|WhatisEpistemology? Starttoday.Tryitnow Humanities / Philosophy101:IntrotoPhilosophy Philosophy101:IntrotoPhilosophy 16chapters| 129lessons |10 flashcardsets {{courseNav.course.topics.length}}chapters| {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}}lessons |{{course.flashcardSetCount}} flashcardset{{course.flashcardSetCoun>1?'s':''}} Ch1. IntroductiontoPhilosophy&... Goto IntroductiontoPhilosophy&Logic Ch2. TypesofFallacies Goto TypesofFallacies Ch3. FreeWill&Determinism Goto FreeWill&Determinism Ch4. Self,Mind&SoulinPhilosophy Goto Self,Mind&SoulinPhilosophy Ch5. GodinPhilosophy Goto GodinPhilosophy Ch6. Religion&Philosophy Goto Religion&Philosophy Ch7. RealityinPhilosophy Goto RealityinPhilosophy Ch8. PhilosophyinScience Goto PhilosophyinScience Ch9. IntrotoEpistemology Epistemology:Definition&Examples 4:36 5:34 NextLesson EpistemologyandtheTruevs.MetaphysicsandtheReal HowPhilosophyUnderstandsKnowledgeCross-Culturally 6:47 Goto IntrotoEpistemology Ch10. AncientEpistemology Goto AncientEpistemology Ch11. ModernEpistemology Goto ModernEpistemology Ch12. ContemporaryEpistemology Goto ContemporaryEpistemology Ch13. Ethics Goto Ethics Ch14. PoliticalPhilosophy Goto PoliticalPhilosophy Ch15. Philosophy&SocialJustice Goto Philosophy&SocialJustice Ch16. StudyingforPhilosophy101 Goto StudyingforPhilosophy101 EpistemologyExamples&Types|WhatisEpistemology?RelatedStudyMaterials RecommendedLessonsandCoursesforYou RelatedLessons RelatedCourses RelatedLessons WhatisMetaphysics?|Examples&Topics OntologyTheory&Examples|WhatisOntology? 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