Preparing for Quiz 5

In this section we begin our study of empiricism in epistemology. We read about one ancient empiricist (Aristotle), and the two modern empiricists John Locke and George Berkeley (after whom Berkeley, California was named).

This is the material for Quiz 5.

Readings for Quiz 5

The reading assignments for this section are:

• DP Ch 3 "Empiricism," "Aristotle as a Precursor to Empiricism"

• DP Ch 3 "The Empiricism of John Locke"

• DP Ch 3 "Berkeley's Correction of Locke"

• DP (fourth and higher editions) Ch 7 "Ancient Greek Moral Philosophers" (material on Aristotle only)

  If you are using the second or third edition of Palmer, read the following instead:

  Alternative Reading on Aristotle's Ethics

• The following notes:

  • Empiricism

  • Aristotle

  • Locke and Berkeley

Objectives for Quiz 5

You should be able to answer the following essay questions:

1. How does Berkeley’s empiricism differ from Locke’s? (Be sure to give Berkeley’s reasons for disagreeing with Locke.)

2. What is the problem of substance in Locke?

3. What role does God play in Berkeley’s metaphysics and epistemology?

4. Terry says, “For all I know, I'm really a brain in a vat, with my sense inputs controlled by space aliens. The real world may be nothing at all like the world I experience.” Assuming Terry is not hallucinating or insane, what arguments might Locke and Berkeley present to convince her that her view is unreasonable?

5. What is epistemology?

6. What is empiricism in epistemology?

7. What is the difference between rationalism and empiricism in epistemology?