Empiricism

Basic empirical beliefs are derived directly from sense data

A. These beliefs are justified & count as evidence

B. Inferential beliefs must be justified via BEB

Skepticism regarding any belief that cannot be empirically tested

For BEB seem more reliable than other sorts of beliefs BEB seem linked to how the world around us really is Success of the natural sciences

Against How do we arrive at BEB? Why are we justified to believe that BEB are true?

Major Problem #1: Understanding Perception

Perceptual Realism: Whenever we perceive an object P to have a property A, then we are justified to believe that object P has property A

C. Naïve Realism: The world does match our perception of it

D. Indirect Realism: Primary & Secondary Properties

E. Idealism: “Esse est Percipi”

F. Good summation of the perception problems: 71ii

Major Problem #2: Induction

G. How to move from knowledge of particulars (things experienced) to knowledge of universals (things not experienced)?

H. Empiricism is supposed to underlie the success of empirical science, yet scientific knowledge is centered on general laws

I. Example: Peter and the Loggerhead Turtles

a. Induction D uniformity of nature