The Gettier Problem /50

Name: ______________________

The Gettier Problem is a landmark philosophical problem that exists within the field of epistemology.
Developed by American Philosopher Edmund Gettier, it call into question the validity of ​Justified True
Belief​. In this brief paper you will do the following;

a) Explain what is meant by ​Justified True Belief.​ Be sure to outline what each term means, and provide two
examples, one in the affirmative, one in the negative.

Example: ​If my doctor were to tell me that I have cancer, that is an example of Justification.
However, if my dog were to tell me I have cancer, that is not a justification, even if I do have
cancer.

b) Explain the Gettier Problem, being sure to use Gettier’s original Smith and Jones Job interview. Be sure to
explain the thought experiment in detail, and address why ​Justified True Belief​ fails here.

c) Provide your own example of a Gettier Problem.

d) Outline the 3 main types of Responses the the Gettier Problem. I suggest that you look at Wikipedia for your
ground work here.

Excellent (10) Proficient (8) Acceptable (6) Approaching (4) Limited (2)

Description of Description of JTB Description of JTB Description of JTB Description of JTB Description of JTB
Knowledge is very Knowledge is Knowledge is mostly Knowledge is Knowledge has many
JTB Knowledge
accurate, engaging, and accurate, and utilizes accurate, and utilizes confusing, or issues in construction
utilizes terminology and terminology and ideas some terminology and inaccurate. Little and content. Little is
ideas in an effective, in an appropriate ideas. terminology included. discussed, or
appropriate manner. manner. explained.

Description of Description of Gettier Description of Gettier Description of Gettier Description of Gettier Description of Gettier
Problem is very Problem is accurate, Problem is mostly Problem is confusing, Problem has many
Gettier Problem
accurate, engaging, and and utilizes accurate, and utilizes or inaccurate. Little issues in construction
utilizes terminology and terminology and ideas some terminology and terminology included. and content. Little is
ideas in an effective, in an appropriate ideas. discussed, or
appropriate manner. manner. explained.

Description of Description of Description of Description of Description of Description of

Responses to the Gettier Responses to the Responses to the Responses to the Responses to the
Responses to
Problem is very Gettier Problem is Gettier Problem is Gettier Problem is Gettier Problem has
the Gettier accurate, engaging, and accurate, and utilizes mostly accurate, and confusing, or many issues in
Problem utilizes terminology and terminology and ideas utilizes some inaccurate. Little construction and
ideas in an effective, in an appropriate terminology and terminology included. content. Little is
appropriate manner. manner. ideas. discussed, or
explained.

Gettier Problem Examples are well Examples are well Examples are slightly Examples are Examples are
thought out and accurate thought out, but confusing, and errors confusing, and errors incredibly limited, and
Examples
contain a minor error are present, are present. are very poorly
constructed.

Spelling Paper is spelling error Paper is mostly Paper has multiple Paper has many errors Spelling errors are
and grammar error free. spelling error and spelling and grammar throughout, impacting egregious and frequent,
Conventions
grammar error free. errors. readability. massively impacting
readability.