more on this theme | more from this thinker
Full Idea
I have always said that a belief was knowledge if it was 1) true, ii) certain, iii) obtained by a reliable process.
Gist of Idea
A belief is knowledge if it is true, certain and obtained by a reliable process
Source
Frank P. Ramsey (The Foundations of Mathematics [1925], p.258), quoted by Michael Potter - The Rise of Analytic Philosophy 1879-1930 66 'Rel'
Book Ref
Potter,Michael: 'The Rise of Anaytic Philosophy 1879-1930' [Routledge 2020], p.431
A Reaction
Not sure why it has to be 'certain' as well as 'true'. It seems that 'true' is objective, and 'certain' subjective. I think I know lots of things of which I am not fully certain. Reliabilism long preceded Alvin Goldman.
Related Idea
Idea 22326 Knowledge needs more than a sensitive response; the response must also be appropriate [Russell]
13427 | Either 'a = b' vacuously names the same thing, or absurdly names different things [Ramsey] |
13426 | Formalists neglect content, but the logicists have focused on generalizations, and neglected form [Ramsey] |
13425 | Formalism is hopeless, because it focuses on propositions and ignores concepts [Ramsey] |
13428 | Reducibility: to every non-elementary function there is an equivalent elementary function [Ramsey] |
13430 | Infinity: there is an infinity of distinguishable individuals [Ramsey] |
13334 | Contradictions are either purely logical or mathematical, or they involved thought and language [Ramsey] |
22328 | I just confront the evidence, and let it act on me [Ramsey] |
22325 | A belief is knowledge if it is true, certain and obtained by a reliable process [Ramsey] |