19 Questions to Consider

1. This chapter has included several technical terms. It may be instructive to write down definitions for them.

internalism 

externalism 

naturalized epistemology 

circularity (in justification) 

foundationalism 

epistemological holism 

2. Consider your definitions for externalism and epistemological holism. Do you think there could be such a thing as internalist epistemological holism? Think it through, and describe what such a position would maintain.

3. As it has been written, “Our other beliefs … eventually persuade us to give up on the floating cat and to believe that it was only a projection. We can imagine different circumstances that would persuade us not to believe our roommates.” Please describe these different circumstances, and show why they would lead us to believe it is more likely that there is a floating cat than that our roommates have deceived us.