Single Idea 5937

[catalogued under 11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 4. Belief / a. Beliefs]

Full Idea

A state of opinion is good because of its degree of groundedness, and because the degree of conviction corresponds to the degree of groundedness.

Gist of Idea

The goodness of opinions depends on their grounds, and corresponding degrees of conviction

Source

W. David Ross (The Right and the Good [1930], §VI)

Book Reference

Ross,W.David: 'The Right and the Good' [OUP 1930], p.147


A Reaction

This is an early statement (from an ethical intuitionist) of what are now called the 'epistemic virtues'. It seems impossible to prove that these characteristics make an opinion good, but it also seems hard to deny either of them.