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    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 2024, expected to be offered in 2025 (On campus)
    Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) $981.75
    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

    philosophy@otago.ac.nz

    Teaching staff

    Course co-ordinator: Associate Professor Zach Weber.

    Teaching staff to be confirmed.

    Textbooks

    To be confirmed.

    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)

    Timetable

    Not offered in 2024, expected to be offered in 2025

    Location
    Dunedin
    Teaching method
    This paper is taught On Campus
    Learning management system
    Blackboard
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