Philosophy Sections 7.1 & 7.2 Essay

1. What are the requirements for knowledge?4.What is Platos metaphor of the cave supposed to demonstrate?Platos allegory of the cave is supposed to demonstrate non only the human situation in general but Socrates life in particular. Socrates glimpsed the true nature of candor and tried to convince the inhabitants of Athens that they didnt know what they thought they knew.The objects that cast shadows on the wall represent what Plato considers to be the truly real objects the forms. 5.What is Descartes dream phone line?Descartes dream argument is as followed1) We cant be certain that were not aspiration.2) If we cant be certain that were not dreaming, we cant be certain that what we sense is real.3) If we cant be certain that what we sense is real, we cant acquire knowledge done sense experience. 4) Therefore, we cant acquire knowledge through sense experience. According to Descartes, you cant rule out the possible action that youre dreaming so youre senses cant give you knowle dge of the external world. 8. Why do empiricists believe that there are no synthetic a priori truths?Empiricists believe that there are no synthetic a priori truths because they believe that sense experience is our only source of knowledge of the external world. 9.How does Kant explain the possibility of synthetic a priori truths?Kant explained the possibility of synthetic a priori truths by examining the method of inquiry used by mathematicians. Kant found that what makes it possible for mathematicians to discover such truths is that they field of force the principles the mind uses to construct mathematical objects.Section 7.2 (3 and 4)3. What is representative realism?Representative realism is the doctrine that sensations are caused by external objects and that our sensations represent these objects. 4. What is the distinction between direct and secondary qualities?The distinction between primary and secondary qualities is that while secondary qualities exist in the mind not in the actual object, primary qualities are possessed by material objects.