Define a posteriori
A belief that can only be known through experience of the world, E.g. ‘Paris is the capital of France’
Define a priori
Knowledge that is known prior to or without experience, E.g. 1+1=2
Define analytic
A term which describes the manner in which a proposition is true. An analytic truth is true by definition, E.g all bachelors are unmarried men
Define synthetic
A term that describes the manner in which a proposition is true. A synthetic truth requires knowledge beyond the statement to be true, Eg. ‘All bachelors have a brain’
Name an example of a synthetic truth
‘All bachelors have at least one kidney’
Define antecedent
The ‘x’ part of a hypothetical proposition ‘If x, then y’, leads to the consequent
Define consequent
The ‘y’ part of a hypothetical proposition ‘If x, then y’, is caused by the antecedent
Define proposition
A sentence that makes a claim about the way the world actually is, for example, ‘I am holding a pen’. Can be true or false.
Define consistent
When several beliefs can be true at the same time, or if it is possible for a belief to be true
Define contingent truth
A truth which happens to be true, but may not have been in the past or may not be in the future. It being false is logically possible, e.g., ‘The year is 2025’
Define dilemma
Any situation an agent faces where there is difficulty choosing between two or more courses of action. This difficulty could either come from moral reasons both for or against all choices, but a choice must be made nonetheless
Define false
Used to describe beliefs and propositions, something that is not true, so fails to correspond with the facts
Define justification
The support or grounds for holding a belief, giving someone a reason to believe something
Define necessary truth
A truth that will always be true, and it being false is logically impossible, E.g. ‘A triangle has three sides’
Define objective
Something that reflects the way things really are beyond the mind
Define subjective
How something is perceived to a mind, so it may not reflect the way things are beyond the mind
Define paradox
An (apparently) contradictory statement, emerging from linguistic problems or issues with the concepts being discussed, E.g. ‘this statement is false’
Define proof
A sound argument that establishes the truth of its conclusion
Define prove
To establish a conclusion’s truth through reasoning
Define a sound argument
A deductive argument with true premises
Define tautology
A sentence that is true by definition
Define truth
A term used for beliefs and propositions when they correspond with facts about the world
Define inconsistent
If several beliefs cannot all be true at once, or if a belief cannot be true because it is self-contradictory
