Single Idea 8831

[catalogued under 16. Persons / C. Self-Awareness / 1. Introspection]

Full Idea

Introspection should be regarded as a form of retrospection. Thus, a justified belief that I am 'now' in pain gets its justificational status from a relevant, though brief, causal history.

Gist of Idea

Introspection is really retrospection; my pain is justified by a brief causal history

Source

Alvin I. Goldman (What is Justified Belief? [1976], II)

Book Reference

'Epistemology - An Anthology', ed/tr. Sosa,E. /Kim,J. [Blackwell 2000], p.348


A Reaction

He cites Hobbes and Ryle as having held this view. See Idea 6668. I am unclear why the history must be 'causal'. I may not know the cause of the pain. I may not believe an event which causes a proposition, or I may form a false belief from it.

Related Idea

Idea 6668 If the present does not exist, then consciousness must be memory of the immediate past [Marshall]