Combining Philosophers

Ideas for Herodotus, Euclid and Laurence Bonjour

unexpand these ideas     |    start again     |     choose another area for these philosophers

display all the ideas for this combination of philosophers


4 ideas

12. Knowledge Sources / A. A Priori Knowledge / 2. Self-Evidence
It is hard to give the concept of 'self-evident' a clear and defensible characterization [Bonjour]
     Full Idea: Foundationalists find it difficult to attach a clear and defensible content to the idea that basic beliefs that are characterized as 'self-justified' or 'self-evident'.
     From: Laurence Bonjour (A Version of Internalist Foundationalism [2003], 1.4)
     A reaction: A little surprising from a fan of a priori foundations, especially given that 'self-evident' is common usage, and not just philosophers' jargon. I think we can talk of self-evidence without a precise definition. We talk of an 'ocean' without trouble.
12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 8. Adverbial Theory
The adverbial account will still be needed when a mind apprehends its sense-data [Bonjour]
     Full Idea: The adverbial account of the content of experience is almost certainly correct, because no account can be given of the relation between sense-data and the apprehending mind that is independent of the adverbial theory.
     From: Laurence Bonjour (A Version of Internalist Foundationalism [2003], 5.1 n3)
     A reaction: This boils down to the usual objection to sense-data, which is 'cut out the middle man'. Bonjour is right that at some point the mind has finally to experience whatever is coming in, and it must experience it in a particular way.
12. Knowledge Sources / C. Rationalism / 1. Rationalism
Moderate rationalists believe in fallible a priori justification [Bonjour]
     Full Idea: Moderate rationalism preserves a priori justification, but rejects the idea that it is infallible.
     From: Laurence Bonjour (In Defence of Pure Reason [1998], §4.1)
Our rules of thought can only be judged by pure rational insight [Bonjour]
     Full Idea: Criteria or rules do not somehow apply to themselves. They must be judged by the sort of rational insight or intuition that the rationalist is advocating.
     From: Laurence Bonjour (In Defence of Pure Reason [1998], §5.2)