Knowledge as Having the Right to be Sure:
Description: The instructions for MRA 4 are relatively simple, but more challenging than prior MRAs.
1.) Very short articles: A.J. Ayer’s “Knowledge as Having the Right to be Sure.” and Edmund Gettier’s “Is Justified, True Belief Knowledge?”
2) Explain what the thesis of “Is Justified, True Belief Knowledge?” is. This may involve briefly explaining, as background information, Ayer’s main thought.
3) Carefully explain Gettier’s argument for his thesis.
4.) Evaluate Gettier’s argument. What do you think of it? Remember, I don’t care what anybody’s opinion is. I want to go beyond mere opinion, and I want to see how you provide and evaluate evidence. Think carefully about what kind of evidence Gettier is using for his thesis. Is it good? Think about the logic of his argument. Is it valid? As always, part of the challenge is concision. Aim for 300 words.