Believing in a Social World Lecture Notes

Course Navigation and Materials

• Check the course reading list and course navigation document under the content tab.
• Responsibility to know assignment deadlines.
• Videos may be longer at the start of the semester.

Recommended Approach to Course Material

• Videos: Start by watching them for an overview.
• Lecture Notes/Slides: 20 slides per week, detailed information for studying.
• Readings: Ideal to do all, but one to three pages a week suggested if pressed for time.

Philosophy and Epistemology

• Philosophy is a process of inquiry: questioning, considering alternatives, analyzing, and creating arguments.
• Epistemology: Study of knowledge, how we know what we know, and mistakes in information gathering.
  • Assumptions and Beliefs: Statements can be true/false, justified/unjustified.
  • Historical beliefs may be justified based on past knowledge.

Distinctions in Beliefs

• First Order Beliefs: Direct statements about the world.
  • e.g., "It is raining."
• Second Order Beliefs: Beliefs about beliefs.
  • e.g., "I am sure it will rain today."

Skepticism in Philosophy

• Descartes: Used doubt as a tool to find rational basis for knowledge.
  • Cannot doubt that he is a thinking being.
• Computer Simulations (Bostrom): Radical skepticism questioning if we live in simulations.
• Sextus Empiricus: Radical skepticism, Peronian skepticism.
  • Modes of thought challenge the possibility of objective knowledge.

Sextus Empiricus and Modes of Thought

• Animals perceive the world differently; human perceptions vary greatly.
  • No "correct" perception.
  • Synesthesia as an example of radical perceptual differences.
• Inside modes: everything disputable, perspectives bias hypotheses.

Implications of Skepticism

• Beliefs: Often wrong/unjustified.
  • Skeptics right to be wary but beliefs are still useful.
  • Practical utility of beliefs in everyday tasks (e.g., driving).

Conclusion

• Check lecture notes and course schedule under content tab.
• Stay updated with deadlines and test dates.
• Upcoming instructions for Project 1 and possible assignment video.
• Have a great weekend and take care.