week 3

I agree with empiricism myself and consider myself an empiricist in fact. In order to have knowledge of an apple we have had to experience seeing it feeling and tasting it. Knowing that an apple is round and is red or green and has a sweet taste to it we must've experienced it before. A type of knowledge that I believe is a problem for this theory is that our experiences tell us about the nature of reality as John Locke argued. However, could we ever know if Locke’s belief is true, since we cannot jump outside our experience to compare it with reality. This evaluation places somewhat of a gap for empiricist like Locke and others.

week 2

Methodological skepticism is a way of using the process of doubting in order to arrive at certainty. I believe this process can only serve as good for people. This refers back to my first post where I talk about how important it is to question everything. Doubt is the way that we examine something, for the reason of wanting to get to the root of a socially accepted truth or fact in order to classify it as an unshakable truth.
I think we follow this procedure and sometimes we don't. Depending on the situation I think we selectively use this procedure to our advantage. If someone randomly gives a stranger money lets say a $20 dollar bill we might tend to question its validity and question this random act of kindness. Other times we just accept things and don't bother questioning them. Methodological skepticism is a very effect strategy because it helps us distinguish the difference between what can be considered certain and what is still up for doubt.

Week 1

It is difficult to disagree with Socrates that, without philosophical education, we are all merely prisoners in the cave. Education is essential in the sense that without it we settle for what is easy and what feels comfortable. Without education we are unable to challenge one another nor are we able to most importantly question things around us. Hinting to what Plato wanted us to understand, becoming educated means learning to live outside the world of shadows. We without philosophical education will be unable to break from societies chains and incapacitated to question their assumptions. Philosophy emancipates us in a sense that we are able to interrogate certainty. Philosophy allows us to look at things from a different perspective and encourages us to combat our beliefs and ideas. Socrates is right for feeling gloomy without philosophy because it coincides with freedom. Once a society is able to educate themselves and question the norms and combat socially constructed ideas then we can be considered liberated.