Limits of Knowledge

• Criticism of reliabilism


  The argument that reliabilism fails to adequately account for the relationship between beliefs and justifications
• Reliability of beliefs


  The extent to which beliefs are produced by a reliable process and considered knowledge
• Reliable belief


  A belief produced by a reliable process and considered knowledge
• Berkeley's response to doubt

  The idealist view that reality is dependent on our perceptions and that we have secure knowledge because we are directly aware of it
• Russell's response to doubt


  The belief that the existence of a physical world is the best explanation for the regularity and predictability of our sense experiences
• Locke's response to doubt

  The belief that while skepticism may be possible at a theoretical level, it is not practical and we can have well-founded opinions about the world
• Indubitable


  Unable to be doubted or questioned
• Infallibilism


  The belief that knowledge requires absolute certainty and justification
• Brain in a vat scenarios

  Thought experiments raising doubts about the reliability of our perceptions and the existence of an external world
• External justification


  Justification based on evidence or reasoning independent of personal experiences
• Internal justification

  Justification based on personal experiences or introspection
• Justification


  Reasons or evidence that support a belief or claim
• Cogito


  The Latin phrase 'I think, therefore I am', used by Descartes as a starting point for establishing certain knowledge
• Reliable process


  A method or mechanism that consistently produces accurate or valid results
• Gap between perception and reality


  The difference or disconnect between how we perceive the world and how it actually is
• Idealist view of perception


  The belief that reality is dependent on our perceptions and does not exist independently
• Material world


  The physical reality that exists independently of our perceptions
• Abduction


  An inference to the best explanation
• Reliabilism


  A theory of knowledge defining knowledge as reliably produced true belief
• Brain in a vat


  A thought experiment suggesting that one's experiences and perceptions could be generated by an external source, such as a computer simulation
• Perceptual error

  Mistaken perception or misinterpretation of sensory information
• Waves of doubt

  Successive stages of doubt employed by Descartes to challenge and rebuild his system of belief
• Method of doubt

  A systematic approach of suspending judgment and doubting all previously held beliefs
• Descartes' Meditations


  A philosophical work by René Descartes exploring skepticism and attempting to establish certain knowledge
• Fundamental beliefs


  Core principles or convictions that shape one's worldview
• Practicalities of life

  Everyday concerns and considerations
• Physical objects


  Tangible items that exist in the physical world
• Theoretical skepticism


  Doubt used as a tool to test the strength of knowledge claims
• Global conspiracy of misinformation


  A widespread and coordinated effort to spread false or misleading information
• Evidence


  Facts or information that support or refute a claim
• Thoughts or feelings


  Mental processes or emotions
• Normal incredulity


  Doubt based on evidence and reason in ordinary life
• Philosophical skepticism


  Extreme doubt about things that are difficult or impossible to doubt in ordinary life
• Skepticism


  The questioning or doubting of knowledge claims
• Limits of knowledge


  The boundaries of what can be known or understood