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Core modules and Options at Level 10

PHI9LD A Priori Knowledge

Outline

A priori knowledge (knowledge that is independent of empirical justification) has been a topic of controversy throughout the history of philosophy. Rationalists (Descartes, Leibniz, Kant) defended the very idea of the a priori and used it as a foundation in their theory of knowledge. Empiricists (Locke, Hume, Mill), in contrast, rejected the possibility of such knowledge and any conception that relied on it. The topic of a priori knowledge became again very prominent in the 1950's with Quine's landmark paper"Two Dogmas of Empiricism" and his rejection of a priori knowledge which has influenced the debate ever since.

In this course we will approach the very idea of a priori knowledge from a historic background. You will cover the classic conceptions and rejections of the a priori and work towards the most recent attempts to define and defend, as well as, undermine and reject, a priori knowledge. During the course our guiding questions will be (a) is there a priori knowledge, (b) if so, what exactly is the distinction between a priori and a posterior knowledge, and (c) what is the value of this specific category of knowledge especially in relation to our philosophical methodology.

Core Text

TBA

Reading

Pritchard, D H	What is this Thing Called Knowledge?	(Routledge 2006)
Steup, M	'Knowledge, Analysis of'	Stanford Encyclopoedia of Philosophy
Klein P	'Skepticism'	Stanford Encyclopoedia of Philosophy

 

Availability:	Honours semester 6/8, BA in Philosophy or the General degree
Prerequisite:	PHI9CA or PHI9CB
Assessment:	Coursework (one required essay) 50%; examination (3 questions in 3 hours) 50%. Students may choose to submit a second essay to improve their coursework grade.
Teaching Pattern:	Each week there will be two one-hour lectures and one one-hour seminar
Regulation:	For the purposes of the University’s attendance regulation 14, lectures and seminars are prescribed classes. The rationale for prescribing these classes may be found in the Philosophy Student Handbook, section F. This section also contains regulations relating to the submission of essays, and other matters.

 

If you would like to know more about this module please contact Tom Cunningham.