(R) = Related to Rationalism (E) = Related to Empiricism (H) = Related to Humes ForkKey termDefinition + NotesExample

Tabula Rasa (E)Blank slate ----> foundation of Empiricism

Innate ideas (R)Being born already equipped with ideas = being programmed from birth

The external worldThe world outside the subjective mind

Empiricism (E)The view that all our significant ideas come from experience

Rationalism (R)The view that all our significant ideas come from reason ----> accommodates innate ideas

Solipsism (E)The view that all that can be known is what the self (individual) experiences + no shared ideasPrivate Theatre

Scepticism (R)Complete doubt of all knowledge ----> not knowing anything + real world is unknowable

A priori (R)Independent of experience2+2=4

A posteriori (E)Dependent on experienceKnowledge of colour requires sight(blind man argument)

IdeaA mental representation of something that exists in the external world

Simple ideaSomething of basic and solitary nature that can be directly experienced by the five sensesProperties of an apple: redness, taste, shape, etc

Complex ideaTwo or more simple ideas put togetherThe apple

Impression (E)Original sense experienceOriginal experience of snow leading to idea (copy principle) of whiteness or coldness

AbstractCannot easily be traced back to a original sense experience + Undetectable via the senses can be used to support existence of innatenessBeauty, Freedom, God

ConcreteAn idea that is undisputed referring to an actual objectTable

AnalyticTrue by definitionBachelors are unmarried men

SyntheticTrue but not by definitionA negation does not result in a contradiction of definitionsExams are silly

Analytic a priori (H) ------------------------------------------------------------Bachelors are unmarried men

Synthetic a priori (R)Innate ideasCause and effect

Synthetic a posteriori-----------------------------------------------------------London busses are red

Necessary truthTrue in all possible universes + Denial involves a contradiction (all analytic truths are necessary)Bachelors are unmarried men2+2=4

Contingent truthTrue, but could be otherwiseLondon busses are red

Inductive argument (E)Probable knowledgeNight always follows day

Deductive argument (R)Conclusion follows the premise ensures certain knowledgeTimmy is a cat cats are mammals Timmy = Mammal

NoumenonThe world (external) as it truly is

PhenomenonThe world as it is through the structured human mind

The given (E)The raw, unstructured, un-conceptualised content of experience that forms the hypothetical basis of knowledge

Arguments for empiricism:Hume's Copy PrincipleHume's blind/deaf manHume's ForkLocke's attack on innate knowledge (which has counter arguments)A posteriori conceptual schemes

Arguments against empiricism:God is innate (Descartes)SolipsismA priori knowledge (Locke, can be argued against)PrepositionsUniversal assentProblem of induction (Hume)

Arguments for rationalism:Descartes' wax exampleMeno and the slave boy (Plato)Chomsky's language structure (can be argued against)Descartes' 3 waves of doubtThe missing shade of blue (can be argued against)Kant's categories/conceptual schemesThe myth of the cave (Plato)

Arguments against rationalism:Complex ideas