Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the main epistemological problem that the Meditator is contemplating?
What is the main epistemological problem that the Meditator is contemplating?
- The authority of tradition and inherited beliefs
- The limitations of scientific knowledge
- The reliability of sense experience (correct)
- The existence of metaphysical certainty
Why does the Meditator cast aside his beliefs and start anew?
Why does the Meditator cast aside his beliefs and start anew?
- To prove the principles inherited from tradition and authority
- To validate his beliefs based on sense experience
- To reject scientific knowledge altogether
- To seek metaphysical certainty as the foundation for knowledge (correct)
According to the Meditator, why should sense experiences be doubted?
According to the Meditator, why should sense experiences be doubted?
- They provide the only basis for scientific knowledge
- They are inherited from tradition and authority
- They are often deceptive (correct)
- They are grounded in metaphysical certainty
What example does the Meditator give to illustrate a sense experience that might be doubted?
What example does the Meditator give to illustrate a sense experience that might be doubted?
How does the Meditator suggest that dream experiences challenge the reliability of sense experiences?
How does the Meditator suggest that dream experiences challenge the reliability of sense experiences?
What conclusion does the Meditator draw about doubting his own immediate sense experiences?
What conclusion does the Meditator draw about doubting his own immediate sense experiences?
What does the Meditator suppose when he decides not to worry about whether he is awake or asleep?
What does the Meditator suppose when he decides not to worry about whether he is awake or asleep?
What concept does the Meditator infer from the seeming reality of colors in dreams?
What concept does the Meditator infer from the seeming reality of colors in dreams?
Why does the Meditator entertain the idea that God could be a deceiver?
Why does the Meditator entertain the idea that God could be a deceiver?
What causes the Meditator to conclude that the idea of God as a deceiver is false?
What causes the Meditator to conclude that the idea of God as a deceiver is false?
Why does the Meditator resolve to assume that he may be deceived by 'some evil spirit'?
Why does the Meditator resolve to assume that he may be deceived by 'some evil spirit'?
What leads the Meditator to be unable to believe anything is true after considering the possibility of exhaustive deception?
What leads the Meditator to be unable to believe anything is true after considering the possibility of exhaustive deception?
