In your view, are the criteria of justification, truth, and conviction necessary and sufficient conditions for having knowledge? In other words, can we claim to know something if we meet Ayer’s criteria? Do we need to meet all of them in order to have knowledge? Even if we have a justified true belief, are there any criteria missing, as Gettier seems to have thought?

Introduction to Philosophy Summer 2022

The total length of the essay should be approximately 1,000 words.
See “How to Write a Philosophy Paper” below for guidelines on how to write your essay.
You are expected to refer to relevant parts of our course materials and to cite references appropriately, even if your only source is, for
example, one article. No other secondary literature should be needed to craft an “A” paper. In fact, using other sources usually detracts from the quality of an essay like this one.

1. Knowledge & Knowing
In the Mediations, Descartes was concerned to find knowledge that was true, certain, and well-justified. Three centuries later, A. J. Ayer wrote that to know something is have a justified true belief about it. Gettier objected to Ayer’s characterization of knowledge by offering a counterexample.

In your view, are the criteria of justification, truth, and conviction necessary and sufficient conditions for having knowledge? In other words, can we claim to know something if we meet Ayer’s criteria? Do we need to meet all of them in order to have knowledge? Even if we have a justified true belief, are there any criteria missing, as Gettier seems to have thought?

Answer this question succinctly as possible. Your answer should

• (1) explain what Ayer means by justification, truth, and conviction (belief),
• (2) the details and reasons for Gettier’s objection, and
• (3) your assessment of the debate.

Be sure to offer reasons for and against your view, providing your own examples as needed to clarify your meaning.