Active learning ideas
Reason as a Source of Knowledge explores the classic tension between Rationalism and Empiricism. Students compare the belief that some knowledge is innate (Innatism) with the view that the mind is a 'tabula rasa' or blank slate at birth. This topic is central to the AQA specification, focusing on Plato's slave boy argument and Leibniz's defense of necessary truths.
Activity 01
Students are given a list of concepts (e.g., 'equality', 'God', 'blue', 'triangle'). They must sort them into those that could only come from experience and those that might be innate, defending their choices to the class.
Are we born with innate ideas?
Activity 02
One student acts as Socrates and another as the slave boy. Using only leading questions about a square, the 'Socrates' must lead the 'slave' to a mathematical truth, demonstrating the theory of anamnesis.
How does Descartes use intuition and deduction to build knowledge?
Activity 03
Groups are given the 'building blocks' of Descartes' Meditations. They must arrange them in a logical sequence to show how he moves from the Cogito to the existence of the external world.
How do empiricists like Locke respond to innatism?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Students often think 'innate' means you are born already thinking the thought.
Innatism usually means we have the *capacity* or *disposition* to trigger these ideas. Using the analogy of a block of veined marble (Leibniz) in a hands-on activity helps students see that the 'pattern' is there before the 'sculpting' of experience begins.
Students confuse 'intuition' with a 'gut feeling'.
In philosophy, rational intuition is a clear and distinct intellectual seeing of a truth. Peer-checking definitions helps students distinguish between 'I have a feeling' and 'I rationally perceive this must be true'.
Methods used in this brief
The Tripartite View of Knowledge
Students examine the traditional definition of knowledge as justified true belief. They will evaluate Gettier cases that challenge the sufficiency of this definition.
8 methodologies
Perception as a Source of Knowledge
An exploration of direct and indirect realism. Students will analyse arguments from illusion, hallucination, and perceptual variation.
8 methodologies
Berkeley's Idealism
Students investigate George Berkeley's claim that 'to be is to be perceived'. They will critique the rejection of mind-independent material objects.
8 methodologies