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Full Idea
I allow knowledge without belief, as in the case of the timid student who knows the answer but has no confidence that he has it right, and so does not believe what he knows.
Gist of Idea
The timid student has knowledge without belief, lacking confidence in their correct answer
Source
David Lewis (Elusive Knowledge [1996], p.429)
Book Ref
Lewis,David: 'Papers in Metaphysics and Epistemology' [CUP 1999], p.429
A Reaction
[He cites Woozley 1953 for the timid student] I don't accept this example (since my views on knowledge are rather traditional, I find). Why would the student give that answer if they didn't believe it? Sustained timid correctness never happens.
| 12898 | Justification is neither sufficient nor necessary for knowledge [Lewis] |
| 12895 | Knowing is context-sensitive because the domain of quantification varies [Lewis, by Cohen,S] |
| 19562 | We have knowledge if alternatives are eliminated, but appropriate alternatives depend on context [Lewis, by Cohen,S] |
| 12897 | To say S knows P, but cannot eliminate not-P, sounds like a contradiction [Lewis] |
| 12899 | The timid student has knowledge without belief, lacking confidence in their correct answer [Lewis] |