Selective Questions on Chisholm's Theory of Knowledge 3rd ed.

Chap 1: The Skeptic's Challenge

1. What is the justification of epistemologists' faith on themselves? Explain 'the problem of criterion' in connection.                                                         4+8½
2. How could we justify the study of epistemology? Explain. or What are the arguments of R. M. Chisholm against philosophical skepticism? Discuss.
3. 'What am I justified in believing?' explain epistemologists faith in themselves.

Chap 2: Epistemic Justification

4. What are the principles governing the use of 'at least as justified as'? Explain. or, Briefly narrate the five formal principles.
5. Give short descriptions on the 13 steps of epistemic justification.

Chap 3: Certainty and the Self-Presenting

6. What is the role of self-presenting in epistemic certainty? Show the distinctive features of self-presenting sensible properties.                                              6+6½
7. What are the misconceptions about appear statements?
8. What do you know about the problem of the speckled hen?

Chap 4: The A Priori

9. 'The a priori, unlike the axiomatic, need not be certain' - explain the relation and epistemic status of the axioms in the context of the a priori.
10. What is the difference of Kantian and traditional distinction between analytic and synthetic statements?
11. Critically examine the Kantian candidates for synthetic a priori statements.
12. What is the difference of use of language in truths of logic and truths of reason - explain linguisticism in this connection.

Chap 5: The Evidence of the Senses

13. The more specific perceptual verbs we use, the more complex justification is needed - explain.
14. How could we arrive at 'perceiving' through 'taking' of the perceptual verbs? What is the normative question concerned here?                                                          10+2½
15. Give different accounts of different perceptual theories.
16. How Carneades attempt to reconcile dogmatic and inductive theory in his critical theory?

Chap 6: The Transfer of Justification

17. What are the two types of relational epistemic concepts?
18. What is the problem of transfer of evidence?
19. What is the difference between implication and entailment?
20. How could we shift from tending to make evident to making evident?
21.  What is meant by tending to make probable?
22. How could we apply the logical probability relation?
23. Sketch an analogy between epistemic and ethical justification through the prima facie and absolute sense of probability and duty?

Chap 7: The Structure of Empirical Knowledge

24. What is the distinction between formal and material epistemic principles?       5
25. How 'epistemic commonsensism' differs from 'epistemic conservatism'? 6
26. Explain 'perceptual taking' as 'that which is beyond reasonable doubt'. 12½
27. How could we differentiate the required role of appearing from that of extra-terrestrials and mere hunches and hallucinations?                                            8
28. Cite and explain the four situations of 'cat seeing' to show the role of remembering in the epistemic appraisal.                                                                       10
29. Concurrence is always coherence, but coherence is not always concurrence - explain.
30. What is the justification of the epistemic principles? What is meant my 'epistemic predicament'?                                                                                              10+2½
31. Briefly narrate the 10 material principles.                                                     12½

Chap 8: Internalism and Externalism

32. What is internalism?                                                                                     5
33. What is the non-theory?                                                                                4
34. What is meant by disjunctive process?                                                 4
35. Discuss any two versions of reliability theory of external justification.                                                                                                                               12½
36. Briefly discuss the four versions of reliability theory of external justification.                                                                                                                            12½
37. Briefly narrate the three versions of causal theory of external justification.                                                                                                                       12½

Chap 9: Foundationalism and the Coherence Theory

38. What is foundationalism?                                                                     3
39. How does Chisholm refutes Bonjour's argument against the possibility of foundationalism?                                                                                           9½
40. Is a non-foundational coherence theory possible? Discuss after Chisholm.                                                                                                                                     12½

Chap 10: What is Knowledge?

41. What is the Gettier problem?
42. What are the four aspects of Gettier problem? Discuss after Chisholm.
43. What is the response of Chisholm to the Gettier problem?
44. Does knowing includes knowing? Give arguments for and against.