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Knowledge is Things you believe that you can justify that are true Statemen ts that you believe that you can justify within some system of justification to the satisfaction of most people who operate within that system.
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The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

Feb 24, 2016

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Andreas Foulias

The Thinker by Auguste Rodin. Rationalism. in its modern sense, rationalism is any view appealing to reason as a source of knowledge or justification it is a method or a theory in which the criterion of the truth is not sensory but intellectual and logical. Rationalism (clear reasoning). - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Page 1: The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

Knowledge is

Things you believe

that you can justify

that are true

Statements that you believe

that you can justify within some system of justification to the satisfaction of most people who operate within that system.

Page 2: The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

Introducing Epistemology

Well, it shouldn’t surprise us that there are many alternative and competing methods for determining the truthfulness of our beliefs or knowledge. That is why we say that there are multiple “Ways of Knowing”.

The study of these alternative ways of knowing is called Epistemology.

Page 3: The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

Alternative “Ways of Knowing”

Are essentially different methods or systems for justifying or supporting claims to knowledge or truth

Page 4: The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

Alternative Epistemologies

• Some are distinct, and have nothing in common with others

• Some are similar to others, having both common features and differences

Page 5: The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

Some Epistemologies We Will Explore

• Rationalism/Reason/Logic• Empiricism/Experience/Science• Religion/Revelation/Faith• Intuition• Spiritualism• Occultism• Skepticism

Page 6: The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

Page 7: The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

Rationalism

• in its modern sense, rationalism is any view appealing to reason as a source of knowledge or justification

• it is a method or a theory in which the criterion of the truth is not sensory but intellectual and logical

Page 8: The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

Rationalism(clear reasoning)

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We already haveconsiderable

knowledgein our minds

We use our existingknowledge to

create new knowledge by

analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating, deducing,

inferring (clear reasoning)

The purestexamples might be the fields ofLogic and Math

Page 9: The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

Innate Ideas/Knowledge

Some rationalists believe that ideas or knowledge are already present in the human mind at birth.

• The notion of causality, that all events have a cause

• Notions of good and evil • Logical and mathematical truths • Metaphysical notions concerning

transcendent objects like God or souls

• Avoidance of hazards (such as heights or potential sources of contagious disease)

• Notions of fairness and justice• Structure of language

Some say “innate knowledge” was put in us by god, and some simply say it is part of our nature.

Page 10: The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

A Priori Knowledge

• Knowledge that is self-evident, that requires no proof or justification, that needs no experience or observation to know it is true. Also called “axiomatic” knowledge.

• All fathers have a child.• 34 + 12 = 46• A is greater than B

B is greater than CThen, A is greater than C

• All bachelors are unmarried.

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Common ‘Rational’ Methods• Analysis: the separation of a whole into its component parts

• Synthesis: the combination of parts or elements so as to form a whole

• Evaluation: to determine the significance, worth, or condition of something, usually by careful appraisal and study

• Induction: reasoning that moves from specific details and observations to the more general underlying principles or process that explains them

• Deduction: reasoning typically moves from general truths to specific conclusions.

• Inference: the act of passing from one proposition, statement, or judgment considered as true to another whose truth is believed to follow from that of the former

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Let’s practice Rationalism(Clear, analytical reasoning)

Can you “reason” your way to knowledge

on these questions?

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How did St. Anselm and St.Thomas Aquinas “prove” the existence of God?

• Ontological Argument

• First Cause Argument

• Intelligent Design Argument

Page 14: The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

Logical Fallacies

“Logical fallacies” are errors in logical reasoning or errors in logical arguments.

There are many, many such errors in logical reasoning. Let’s look at just a small sample.

For Rationalists, “logic” is the fundamental pathway to clear reasoning, and to knowledge.

Page 15: The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

Logical Fallacies

• Non-Sequitur Fallacy

When a conclusion does not logically follow from the foregoing points.

The exchange student, Ki-Nam, was very reserved, so I guess visiting Korea wouldn’t be a whole lot of fun.

Page 16: The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

Logical Fallacies

• Ad Hominem Fallacy

To rebut an argument by pointing out bad qualities about the person making the argument.

Bill Clinton’s position that we need to restore family values in America is rediculous because the man has engaged in serial adultry.

Page 17: The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

Logical Fallacies

• Appeal to Common Belief Fallacy

To support an argument by pointing out that a large number of people believe it.

Cries about global warming are grossly exaggerated. Just about everybody I work with knows that.

Page 18: The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

Logical Fallacies

• Appeal to Consequences Fallacy

To support or rebut an argument by pointing out the consequences of it being true or false.

Cries about global warming are grossly exaggerated. If they were true, we would need to spend billions of dollars and radically change our lifestyles.

Page 19: The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

Logical Fallacies

• False Dilemma Fallacy

Constructing a situation in which one is asked (unnecessarily) to choose between two bad choices.

Do you support the American tradition of a private medical care industry, or are you one of those socialists who supports Obamacare?

Page 20: The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

Logical Fallacies

• Cause & Effect Confusion Fallacy

When two things occur together, to falsely conclude that one causes the other.

Parents who have short tempers often have children who act out. Clearly, parents’ temperment affects how their children behave.

Page 21: The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

Logical Fallacies

• Slippery Slope Fallacy

To suggest that if one thing happens, then something much, much worse will likely follow it.

If we let the government ban pornography, then it won’t be long before they are burning our books.

Page 22: The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

Logical Fallacies

• Circular Argument Fallacy

An argument in which the conclusion is already contained in one of the premises.

The bible says that it is inerrant.

Whatever the bible says is true.

Therefore, the bible is inerrant.

Page 23: The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

Logical Fallacies

• Straw Man Argument Fallacy

Framing an opponent’s arguments in inaccurate terms that make them look weak and silly.

Miguel says that he opposes a raise for faculty in these difficult economic times, but I don’t think that slashing faculty salaries is the right approach.

Page 24: The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

Logical Fallacies• Non-Sequitur Fallacy• Ad Hominem Fallacy• Appeal to Common Belief

Fallacy• Appeal to Consequences

Fallacy• Cause & Effect Confusion

Fallacy• False Dilemma Fallacy• Slippery Slope Fallacy• Circular Argument Fallacy• Straw Man Argument Fallacy

If we legalize marijuana, it won’t be long before we have a society full of heroin addicts to deal with.

Page 25: The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

Logical Fallacies• Non-Sequitur Fallacy• Ad Hominem Fallacy• Appeal to Common Belief

Fallacy• Appeal to Consequences

Fallacy• Cause & Effect Confusion

Fallacy• False Dilemma Fallacy• Slippery Slope Fallacy• Circular Argument Fallacy• Straw Man Argument Fallacy

President Obama wants all US residents to be provided free education through the community college level. Great! Isn’t he the same one who destroyed our health care system by socializing it, too?

Page 26: The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

Logical Fallacies• Non-Sequitur Fallacy• Ad Hominem Fallacy• Appeal to Common Belief

Fallacy• Appeal to Consequences

Fallacy• Cause & Effect Confusion

Fallacy• False Dilemma Fallacy• Slippery Slope Fallacy• Circular Argument Fallacy• Straw Man Argument Fallacy

In retaliation for Al-Qaeda’s 9-11 attack on the Twin Towers from its bases in Afghanistan, the United States was justified in invading Iraq.

Page 27: The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

Logical Fallacies• Non-Sequitur Fallacy• Ad Hominem Fallacy• Appeal to Common Belief

Fallacy• Appeal to Consequences

Fallacy• Cause & Effect Confusion

Fallacy• False Dilemma Fallacy• Slippery Slope Fallacy• Circular Argument Fallacy• Straw Man Argument Fallacy

In Presidential Debates, it’s a good idea to limit participation to just the major party candidates because the public doesn’t really know about or care about the minor party candidates.

Page 28: The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

Logical Fallacies• Non-Sequitur Fallacy• Ad Hominem Fallacy• Appeal to Common Belief

Fallacy• Appeal to Consequences

Fallacy• Cause & Effect Confusion

Fallacy• False Dilemma Fallacy• Slippery Slope Fallacy• Circular Argument Fallacy• Straw Man Argument Fallacy

God must exist! If God did not exist, then all basis for morality would be lost and the world would be a horrible place!

Page 29: The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

Logical Fallacies• Non-Sequitur Fallacy• Ad Hominem Fallacy• Appeal to Common Belief

Fallacy• Appeal to Consequences

Fallacy• Cause & Effect Confusion

Fallacy• False Dilemma Fallacy• Slippery Slope Fallacy• Circular Argument Fallacy• Straw Man Argument Fallacy

The universe could not have been created from nothing, so it must have been created by an intelligent life force.

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Clear Reasoning has a Priviledged Status in Our Society

• In the world and in our own society, individuals practice many, many different ways of knowing and justifying their beliefs

• However, in our mainstream culture, Rationalism plays a dominant role in our major institutions:

Government Political ElectionsCourts Law EnforcementBusiness Medicine

Education

Page 31: The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

Multiple Intelligence Types

• Linguistic and verbal intelligence: good with words• Logical intelligence: good with math and logic• Spatial intelligence: good with visual images• Body/movement intelligence: good with activities• Musical intelligence: good with rhythm• Interpersonal intelligence: good with communication• Intrapersonal intelligence: good with self-knowledge• Naturalist intelligence: good with understanding the

natural world

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What do the SAT and GRE Test?

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Let’s do some clear reasoning

What would be the one best way to improve the quality of student life on the CSUMB campus?

Page 37: The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

Let’s do some clear reasoning

Should downloading music be illegal?

NoArtists and their labels make plenty of money off of concerts, tshirts, etc, losing a few extra dollars because someone downloaded a song instead of buying it will not break them. Odds are, the people downloading the music had no intention of ever buying the CD in the first place. They downloaded it because it was available to them, if it wasn't, they would have never bought it and the artist would be missing that extra dollar and a possible new fan.

YesA $9.99 purchase from iTunes nets the artist 0.94 cents. Itunes gets $3.70 and the record company gets $5.35. A musician needs to sell 12,399 songs on iTunes a month to make the wages of a McDonalds employee. That is .09 cents for each individual song. Streaming music instead? Listeners on Spotify would have to stream a song 4,053,110 times for an artist to earn a salary equal to minimum wage.

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RationalismQuestions?