Epistemology Factualized: New Contractarian Foundations for Epistemology

Many epistemologists are interested in offering a positive account of how it is that many of our common sense beliefs enjoy one or another positive epistemological status (e.g., how they are warranted, justified, reasonable, or what have you). A number of philosophers, under the influence of Wittgen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Synthese (Dordrecht) 2006-05, Vol.150 (2), p.247-280
Main Author: Neta, Ram
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Belief
Beliefs
Common sense
Epistemic justification
Epistemological particularism
Epistemology
Epistemology. Philosophy of science. Theory of knowledge
Intuition
Justified beliefs
Knowledge
Lecterns
Lewis, David K (1941- )
Maxims
Philosophy
Plantinga, Alvin
Skepticism
Stroud, Barry
Williams, Michael
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Summary:Many epistemologists are interested in offering a positive account of how it is that many of our common sense beliefs enjoy one or another positive epistemological status (e.g., how they are warranted, justified, reasonable, or what have you). A number of philosophers, under the influence of Wittgenstein and/or J. L. Austin, have argued that this enterprise is misconceived. The most effective version of this argument is to be found in Mark Kaplan's paper "Epistemology on Holiday". After explaining what this criticism amounts to and why it is important, I then respond to it. My response is based upon, and is intended to display the explanatory power of, a contractarian account of our practice of epistemic appraisal.
ISSN:0039-7857
1573-0964
DOI:10.1007/s11229-004-6266-7