Single Idea 2230

[catalogued under 13. Knowledge Criteria / C. External Justification / 7. Testimony]

Full Idea

Reliable testimony needs a good number of educated people, all of undoubted integrity, who have a lot to lose if they are caught lying, reporting very public events.

Gist of Idea

Good testimony needs education, integrity, motive and agreement

Source

report of David Hume (Enquiry Conc Human Understanding [1748], X.II.92) by PG - Db (ideas)

Book Reference

Hume,David: 'Enquiries Conc. Human Understanding, Morals', ed/tr. Selby-Bigge/Nidditch [OUP 1975], p.116


A Reaction

A nice checklist for flying saucer sightings etc: education, integrity, lying risky, very public. If any of those fail, it comes down to likelihood (apply Bayes?) and character assessment.