Is testimony a valid source of knowledge?

Instructions:

Write a 1200-1500 word essay on one of the following questions.

Your paper must be typed and double-spaced

Your paper must include page numbers.

Provide a cover page with:

your name,
the title of your essay,
the question you are answering
and the word count.
Begin your essay on the next page (not on the cover page)
Do not place your name anywhere else on the paper.

Do put your student ID number on a header or footer of every page.

Your essay outline is due on 04/11/2020.
Your essay PPT is due on 18/11/2020.
Your essay is due on 02/12/2020

Answer One of the Following Questions:

What is the best solution to the problem of the external world? Why?

Is the pragmatic theory of truth preferable to the correspondence theory of truth? Why?

Is testimony a valid source of knowledge? Why?

How To Write a Philosophy Paper:

Your thesis statement should reflect the position you are taking. This is an attempt to persuade. It is a persuasive essay.
You need to provide reasons to support your thesis
You need to consider opposing views (why might someone disagree with you) and refute them.
You can write more than five paragraphs (do not be bound by the ‘5 paragraph essay’)
Tie your points back to your thesis.

In General, you essay should have this format:

Introduction and thesis
Discussion of the philosopher
Defense of your position
Considering an opposing view
Refutation of that view
Conclusion.
Points 2, 3, 4 and 5 can come in any order that makes the most sense to you. But they must all be present.

Cite Properly. Cite More Than You Think You Need To:

When you Quote:

“Philosophy, at least according to the origin of the word in classical Greek, is the ‘love of wisdom’–philosophers are lovers of wisdom.” (Bailey, 1)

When you Paraphrase:

Descartes hypothesized the existence of the evil demon in order to guard against slipping back into habits of belief. (Descartes, 28)

And when you summarize

Then, at the end of your document, list:

Works Cited:

Bailey, Andrew First Philosophy: Fundamental Problems and Readings in Philosophy Volume 2, Andrew Bailey and Robert M. Martin (eds). Ontario: Broadview Press. 2011.

Descartes, Rene Meditations on First Philosophy, reprinted in First Philosophy: Fundamental Problems and Readings in Philosophy Volume 2, Andrew Bailey and Robert M. Martin (eds). Ontario: Broadview Press. 2011.