Single Idea 16279

[catalogued under 13. Knowledge Criteria / C. External Justification / 2. Causal Justification]

Full Idea

Causal accounts of knowledge are all very well in their place, but if they are put forward as general theories, then mathematics refutes them.

Gist of Idea

General causal theories of knowledge are refuted by mathematics

Source

David Lewis (On the Plurality of Worlds [1986], 2.4)

Book Reference

Lewis,David: 'On the Plurality of Worlds' [Blackwell 2001], p.109


A Reaction

You might have some sort of notion of an abstraction from causation which mimicked it in the mathematics case. Lots of things seem to be 'forced' in mathematics. Call it 'ersatz causation'. Necessities are enforcers.