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Single Idea 20729

[filed under theme 7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 4. Anti-realism ]

Full Idea

Arguments for the absolute unknowability or non-existence of an external object only works by assuming that another external object, an individual, is known completely in so far as that individual expresses a judgement about an external object.

Gist of Idea

Arguments that objects are unknowable or non-existent assume the knower's existence

Source

Stephen S. Colvin (The Common-Sense View of Reality [1902], p.145)

Book Ref

-: 'Philosophical Review' [-], p.145


A Reaction

Anti-realism is a decay that eats into everything. You can't doubt all the externals without doubting all the internals as well.


The 6 ideas from 'The Common-Sense View of Reality'

We can only distinguish self from non-self if there is an inflexible external reality [Colvin]
Common-sense realism rests on our interests and practical life [Colvin]
Metaphysics is hopeless with its present epistemology; common-sense realism is needed [Colvin]
If objects are doubted because their appearances change, that presupposes one object [Colvin]
Arguments that objects are unknowable or non-existent assume the knower's existence [Colvin]
The idea that everything is relations is contradictory; relations are part of the concept of things [Colvin]