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Doing Philosophy: An Introduction Through Thought Experiments, 2/e
Theodore Schick, Muhlenberg College
Lewis Vaughn

The Problem of Skepticism and Knowledge

analytic proposition  a proposition that is a logical truth or can be turned into a logical truth by substituting synonyms for synonyms.
a-posteriori proposition  a proposition that can only be known after one has acquired sense experience.
a-priori proposition  a proposition that can be known prior to or independently of sense experience.
causal theory  The doctrine that knowledge is suitably caused true belief.
cognitive cultural relativism  the doctrine that a proposition is made true by a society believing it to be true.
cognitive subjectivism  the doctrine that a proposition is made true by ones believing it to be true.
coherence theory of truth  the doctrine that a proposition is made true by its coherence with a system of beliefs.
correspondence theory of truth  the doctrine that a proposition is made true by its correspondence with reality
defeasibility theory  The doctrine that knowledge is undefeated justified true belief.
direct realism  the doctrine that perception puts us in direct contact with reality.
empiricism  the doctrine that sense experience is the only source of knowledge of the external world.
explanationist theory  The doctrine that knowledge is justified true belief that provides the best explanation for the justifying evidence.
foundationalism  The theory of knowledge that maintains (1) that there are basic beliefs and (2) that the justification of all other beliefs depends on the basic beliefs.
knowledge by acquaintance  knowledge of what it is to have a certain experience.
minimal correspondence theory  the doctrine that a proposition is true just in case things are as it says they are.
performative knowledge  knowledge of how to perform a certain activity.
phenomenalism  The view that all talk of things is reducible to talk of sensations.
philosophical skepticism  the doctrine that we have no knowledge of some realm such as the external world.
pragmatic theory of truth  the doctrine that a proposition is made true by its practical consequences.
primary qualities  qualities possessed by material objects.
propositional knowledge  knowledge of whether a proposition is true or false.
rationalism  the doctrine that reason is the only source of knowledge of the external world.
reliability theory  The doctrine that knowledge is reliably produced true belief.
representative realism  the doctine that sensations are caused by external objects and that our sensations represent those objects.
secondary qualities  qualities that exist in the mind but not in material objects themselves.
sense data  the objects that are immediately known in sensation.
synthetic proposition  a proposition that is not analytic.