Homework Feedback
1) Are there any particular areas you feel confused
about?
2) How have you begun to plan this 15 mark
question?: Is the Tripartite account of
knowledge successful in offering a definition of
knowledge?
Reliabilism (Process
Reliabilism)
Learning objectives:
1) To be able to explain the Reliabilist
definition of knowledge.
2) To analyse some strengths and
weaknesses of Reliabilism.
3) To analyse how Reliabilism copes with
Gettier counter examples (homework).
Reliabilism
• Consider these two cases:
1) You read on www.conspiracies4ever.com that the
Prime Minister is a reptile.
2) You read in the Guardian that foxes are mostly
nocturnal.
Which can you be said to know and why?
Reliabilism: Knowledge is a true belief that is
produced by a reliable process.
Reliabilism claims that you know that P if:
1. P is true;
2. You believe that p;
3. Your belief is caused by a reliable cognitive process.
1) On a scale of 1-10 rank how reliable you think each process below
is for arriving at the belief (1 is not reliable and 10 is reliable).
2) Which of the cases would you class as examples of knowing?
3) Do your answers to question 1 correlate to your answers to
What is a reliable
question 2?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
cognitive process?
Adding 6 and 4 in your head to make 10.
Multiplying 246 and 327 in your head to give 80,442.
Eating hallucinogenic mushrooms and believing the Moon is a monster.
Believing that you will have children because of the pattern of lines on
your hand.
(e) Seeing your friend up close and believing he is back from his holiday.
A reliable
cognitive
is one
produces
(f)
Remembering
what youprocess
ate for breakfast
on that
your third
birthday.a high
(g) Remembering
whatof
youtrue
ate for
breakfastExamples
this morning.include
percentage
beliefs.
(h) Seeing theperception,
hands on an oldmemory
church clock
point
to 12 and believing it is 12
and
testimony.
o’clock.
(i) Guessing (correctly) that Arsenal would beat Liverpool 3-1.
Reliabilism
K = T+B+R
What’s
different?
Reliabilism is not saying that knowledge is a
justified, true belief that has been formed by a
reliable process, it is saying that knowledge is a true
belief that has been formed by a reliable process.
Reliable Process or Justification:
which is best?
Use pp. 86-89 to fill in this table.
Strengths of Reliabilism
Weaknesses of Reliabilism
Extension
Which account of knowledge do you find more convincing:
The JTB account or Reliabilism?
Homework
• Complete the table if you have not finished it.
• Read pp.90-92 and answer these two questions:
1) How does Reliabilism fare with Gettier counter
examples?
2) How does Reliabilism fare with fake-barn
cases?
3) Answer: Outline and Explain one criticism of
Reliabilism (5 marks).
At this stage, which definition of knowledge do
you think is best?
JTB=K
ITB=K
JTB + N =K
RTB=K
Exam practice
What is Reliabilism? (2 marks)