Unit IV

Assignments:

1. Listen to the text and give the gist of the text in writing.

2. Read and translate the text.

Epistemology aims to determine the nature, basis, and extent of knowledge. It explores the various ways of knowing, the nature of truth, and the relationships between knowledge and belief.

Epistemology asks such questions as "What are the features of genuine knowledge as distinct from what appears to be knowledge?" "What is truth, and how can we know what is true and what is false?" and "Are there different kinds of knowledge, with different grounds and characteristics?"

Philosophers often distinguish between two kinds of knowledge, a priori and empirical. We arrive at a priori knowledge by thinking, without independent appeal to experience. For example, we know that there are 60 seconds in a minute by learning the meanings of the terms.

In the same way, we know that there are 60 minutes in an hour. From these facts, we can deduce that there are 3,600 seconds in an hour, and we arrive at this conclusion by the operation of thought alone. We acquire empirical knowledge from observation and experience.

For example, we know from observation how many keys are on a typewriter and from experience which key will print what letter.

The nature of truth has baffled people since ancient times, partly because people so often use the term true for ideas they find congenial and want to believe, and also because people so often disagree about which ideas are true. Philosophers have attempted to define criteria for distinguishing between truth and error. But they disagree about what truth means and how to arrive at true ideas.

The correspondence theory holds that an idea is true if it corresponds to the facts or reality. The pragmatic theory maintains that an idea is true if it works or settles the problem it deals with.

The coherence theory states that truth is a matter of degree and that an idea is true to the extent to which it coheres (fits together) with other ideas that one holds. Skepticism claims that knowledge is impossible to attain and that truth is unknowable.

3.Interpret the following in English:

1. to determine the extent of knowledge

2. b) the features of genuine knowledge

3. c) different grounds

4. d) a priori and empirical e) observation

4.Give Ukrainian equivalents of the following words and word combinations:

to arrive at a conclusion; to baffle; congenial; to define criteria;

to deduce; since ancient times; to acquire empirical knowledge;

to correspond to the facts; a matter of degree; to cohere; to attain;

to settle the problem

5. Find in the text English equivalents of the following words and phrases .Use them in sentences of your own and situations from the text:

1. прийти до висновку

2. із стародавніх часів

3. визначити взірцеві норми (критерії)

4. бентежити (вводити в оману)

5. апріорно (до досвіду)

6. незалежне звернення до досвіду

7. бути у відповідності до фактів

8. теорія когерентності

9. межі знань

10. вирішити проблему

11. характерні ознаки справжніх знань

6. Make up a plan of the text in the form of statements (4 points).

7.Answer the following questions:

1. How do philosophers distinguish two kinds of knowledge ?

2. What theories try to define criteria for distinguishing between truth and error?

3. What does epistemology explore ?

4. How do we acquire empirical knowledge ?

5. Name the theory which substantiates direct dependence on the correctness of the idea on its applying to practice and real solution of the problem ?

8. Look through the text and write out the key philosophical terms.

Give their definitions .

9. Retell the text : a) in detail b) in brief .

10. Write an annotation of the text.

11. Write 6 questions covering the basic points of the text .