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Definition of philosophical terms and Descartes' ball of wax

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Definitions

1. Define: Justification
2. Define: Idea of Sensation; Idea of Reflection.
3. Define: Primary Quality; Secondary Quality
4. Define: Indirect Realism (the double-object view of perception).

5. Descartes says that the beliefs â??I thinkâ? and â??I existâ? cannot be doubted. Explain his reasoning.

6. Descartes argues that the belief that I seem to see a cup is as immune to doubt as the belief that I think. Explain his reasoning.

7. Briefly describe the ball of wax thought experiment? What does it show? What does it fail to show?

8. Give a brief account of Descartesâ?? attempt to answer the question that remains after the Ball of Wax experiment. What is wrong with it?

Definitions

1. Define: Justification - an ideal theory of scientific method would give specific instructions to take someone from ignorance to knowledge.
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/528804/philosophy-of-science/271807/Discovery-justification-and-falsification?anchor=ref943055

Justification is the reason why someone holds a particular belief, why that belief is true, or the explanation of how one knows that one's belief is true.

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Solution Summary

This solution offers definitions and explanations for several philosophical concepts. These include the ideas of justification, sensation, reflection, primary and secondary qualities, and indirect realism. There is also a discussion of Descartes' principle ideas including his ball of wax experiment. Over 1000 words of original text along with citations.

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Definitions

1. Define: Justification - an ideal theory of scientific method would give specific instructions to take someone from ignorance to knowledge.

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/528804/philosophy-of-science/271807/Discovery-justification-and-falsification?anchor=ref943055

Justification is the reason why someone holds a particular belief, why that belief is true, or the explanation of how one knows that one's belief is true.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_justification

2. Define: Idea of Sensation; Idea of Reflection. - both of these ideas were developed by John Locke in answer to the question of where we get all of the ideas that make up the storehouse of our knowledge. Locke denied that we were born with any knowledge whatsoever. He is known for his theory of tabula rasa meaning "blank slate". He claimed we all enter the world as a blank slate and are imprinted with knowledge after birth. He developed the theory of empiricism that claimed that all knowledge came about as a result of experience. He claimed there were two ways that new ideas or knowledge comes to us:

Ideas of Sensation - New knowledge is gained through experience of and interaction with the physical world around us.
Ideas of Reflection - This is new knowledge that we possess as a result of mental activity, questioning and practice. The ability to imagine "blue" or "pain" without having to actually see it or feel it is a reality because of ideas of reflection.

http://www.philosophypages.com/hy/4l.htm

3. Define: Primary Quality; Secondary Quality

These concepts were also developed ...

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