Single Idea 19521

[catalogued under 13. Knowledge Criteria / C. External Justification / 3. Reliabilism / b. Anti-reliabilism]

Full Idea

Reliabilism would count pure guesses as good reasons if guessing were properly reliable.

Gist of Idea

If pure guesses were reliable, reliabilists would have to endorse them

Source

Earl Conee (First Things First [2004], 'Getting')

Book Reference

Conee,E/Feldman,R: 'Evidentialism' [OUP 2004], p.20


A Reaction

See D.H. Lawrence's short story 'The Rocking Horse Winner'. This objection strikes me as being so devastating that it is almost conclusive. Except that pure guesses are never ever reliable, over a decent period of time.