In this unit we have looked at:

· The nature of scepticism
· How the senses may deceive us
· Arguments for illusion, deception and dreaming
· The difference between ordinary and philosophical doubt (Local and global scepticism)
· Brains in vats, alien takeovers and Hollywood conspiracies

Assignment for Unit 1

Choose one essay title from the following two past paper questions. Although you will not be ready to answer the whole question just yet - there are a few more things we need to cover - you can make a start on it by sketching out some ideas. There is an upper word limit of 1500 words, and a lower limit of 600.

1. Examine the extent to which sceptical arguments prevent us from claiming knowledge about the recent and distant past.

2. Assess the implications of the argument from illusion for our knowledge of the external world.

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