Overview
What is knowledge? Can we know anything? How could we know what we think we know? When is a belief justified? These are the questions addressed in this paper.
In this course, we examine different theories of knowledge, justification, and rationality. Is there more to knowledge than justified true belief? We look at different sources of knowledge. Can we trust memory or testimony? We look at kinds of knowledge, including scientific, religious, and moral. And we look at skepticism -- in the end, can we know anything at all?
About this paper
| Paper title | Epistemology: The Theory of Knowledge |
|---|---|
| Subject | Philosophy |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Not offered in 2026 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $1,103.10 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- One PHIL paper or 72 points
- Restriction
- PHIL 102, PHIL 340
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music
- Contact
- More information link
View more information on the Philosophy Programme's website.
- Teaching staff
Professor Heather Dyke (Convener and Lecturer) and Professor Lisa Ellis (Lecturer)
- Textbooks
'What Is This Thing Called Knowledge', by Duncan Pritchard (5th edition).
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Interdisciplinary Perspective, Critical Thinking, Ethics, Communication Skills.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Having successfully completed this paper, students will be able to:
- Outline the key problems of epistemology (e.g. scepticism, the nature of knowledge, the Gettier problem)
- Describe the main approaches to epistemology (e.g. internalism, externalism)
- Describe the major theories in epistemology (e.g. foundationalism, coherentism)
- Understand recent developments in the field (e.g. virtue epistemology, the epistemology of testimony)
- Apply what they have learned to some problems in everyday life (e.g. reliance on expert testimony)
Overview
What is knowledge? Can we know anything? How could we know what we think we know? When is a belief justified? These are the questions addressed in this paper.
In this course, we examine different theories of knowledge, justification, and rationality. Is there more to knowledge than justified true belief? We look at different sources of knowledge. Can we trust memory or testimony? We look at kinds of knowledge, including scientific, religious, and moral. And we look at skepticism - in the end, can we know anything at all?
About this paper
| Paper title | Epistemology: The Theory of Knowledge |
|---|---|
| Subject | Philosophy |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 1 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for 2027 have not yet been set |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- One PHIL paper or 72 points
- Restriction
- PHIL 102, PHIL 340
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music
- Contact
- More information link
View more information on the Philosophy Programme's website.
- Teaching staff
Convener and Lecturer: Professor Heather Dyke
- Textbooks
- What Is This Thing Called Knowledge, by Duncan Pritchard (5th edition).
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Interdisciplinary Perspective, Critical Thinking, Ethics, Communication Skills.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Having successfully completed this paper, students will be able to:
- Outline the key problems of epistemology (e.g., scepticism, the nature of knowledge, the Gettier problem)
- Describe the main approaches to epistemology (e.g., internalism, externalism)
- Describe the major theories in epistemology (e.g., foundationalism, coherentism)
- Understand recent developments in the field (e.g., virtue epistemology, the epistemology of testimony)
- Apply what they have learned to some problems in everyday life (e.g., reliance on expert testimony)