Sem. John Raven C.

Angeles Philosophy II

Epistemology (OPEN-NOTE QUIZ) Certitude and Evidence

ANSWERS:
1. Evidence in its fullest sense is the property of the thing which is either a body facts or
information which authenticate that a specific proposition or belief is valid. More so, it is
likewise called as the specific element which can vent out specific truth, and thus, evidence is
tangible and precise manifestation of truth. Suffice to say that the motive of certitude is intellect
because through evidence which is a clear and precise manifestation of truth we can assent
firmly and with conclusively if something is or is not. The reason to be certain in a specific belief
or proposition as valid or invalid is an information or tangible thing which can corroborate with
such, we can just decide if we already sought the evidence.
2. The intellect is in the potency when it does not possess truth knowledge of something, when
we say potency it connotes a mere capacity to attain perfection or actuality, likewise, when we
say that our intellect is in potency it means our mind or intellect is not yet attaining its perfection
such as knowledge or truth.
3. The intellect is in act when it receives its perfection of knowing, here, the intellect is either
attained the truth or deliberating to receive truth. There are two types of actuality of our intellect:
imperfect and perfect. Imperfect act connotes that the intellect does not possess the absolute
truth or knowledge, yet it cannot be reckoned as an intellect in potency due of manner of
deliberation, intellect can be considered as in imperfect act if it is experiencing doubt and
opinion, the former is where mind has been unpredictable on what to affirm and the latter
emphasises averment of the mind on one of the contradictories, however the intellect affirm such
without certitude but with fear. Thus, suspicion transpires and influences the will and the will to
the intellect. On the other hand perfect is when the intellect conclusively assent something is or
is not, with certitude.
4. Nescience- speaks of a mere negation or absence of knowledge which can be said as trivial in
the sense that the mind is relying on its ordination “what is ought to be known” having said this:
it also connotes that there is no ignorance at all because the supposed knowledge to be acquired
is not necessarily to be possessed because it is not included in the natural range of the intellect.
Metaphysically speaking, when we say negation of knowledge, it is not necessarily to be there to
attain perfection. And therefore it cannot be said that it is ignorance because the demand of our
intellect is merely relying in its natural range and in its capacity. IGNORANCE- in its
technical definition is an absence of knowledge or truth which is ought to be possessed or
known, in this sense ignorance pertains to the absence of truth or knowledge which is enveloped
in the capacity or in the demands of your intellect, metaphysically speaking ignorance is
commensurate evil in the sense that evil is either a loss or lack of perfection which is ought to be
there, likewise, ignorance is the absence of a specific truth or knowledge which is ought to be
known. ERROR- we can attain knowledge or truth because our cognositive faculty such as the
senses and the intellect is ordained and determined by on object. Error of knowledge and truth
occur either because of the wrong disposition of the senses such as visually or mentally impaired,
or the wrong manifestation of object.
5. Faith and science has been inertwined with one end and that is to be certain on what is real,
more so, both are likewise in pursuit of truth but they vary in medium in the sense that faith is a
belief that something is devoid of any tangible corroboration, however science has relied on
empirical and observable data. Thus, science has been a guide to aith in a specific truth or belief
for instance HELIOCENTRIC and GEOCENTRIC theory of middle ages.
6. Certitude and evidence are intertwined with each other, because without evidence we cannot
be certain regarding the truth of something, we can just decide and tapper the fear of will if and
only if the evidence or proof is there. Certitude relates in evidence because, what is known as
true or not is because of the tangible or perceptible propertyhich we can say that something is.
Without evidence, certainty cannot transpire and without certitude that something is, it
necessarily implies there is no stong proof.
7. Certitude in Falsity- this certitude accentuates that the intellect is certain in something which is
false. Here, you give your certainty to false and lie wise you assume that the thing is true but in
reality is otherwise and can stress out that certain that you are wrong. Certitude of Truth- this
emphasizes the decisive affirmation of the intellect or senses in its ordained or determining
objects. Here the intellect and the senses, are in certitude because their object conforms with
them, hence there is a firm assent or affirmation of truth or knowledge. There are subdivisions in
the domain of certitude of truth, the absolute certitude which underscores the affirmation of the
identity or non-identity of the thing is founded on necessity that the thing is and cannot be
otherwise. Necessity can be derived to the essence, property and end of the thing which entails
metapphysical or ontological certitude. Because in the very essence of the thing in the absolute
truth,the perfection and quiddity or whatness of the thing which is intelligible. Next is the
conditional certitude, this kind of certitude also speaks of implication, this will happen if or
unless the other will happen. There are subdivision within this subdivision the physical certitude
which also connotes certtitude regarding the laws of nature under the the action of God, this
certitude also speaks of certitude in inevitable or inescaple phenomenon such as death, hunger,
happenings in the environment etc. Certitude of Faith or willed certitude is characterized as the
intellect has moved a firm affirmation respectively from the attestation of another which or who
has authority devoid of fear of erring.
8. Doubt and Skeptisism vary with each other in the sense that doubt is a uncertainty due of
insufficient reasons with an attempt to surmount ignorance, while skeptisism is the bracketing
presupposition because of aiming the absolute truth to reconcile with any suspicious claims to
attain ntellectual tranquility.