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Single Idea 6374
[filed under theme 11. Knowledge Aims / B. Certain Knowledge / 1. Certainty
]
Full Idea
If we want an agent to believe as many truths as possible, this could be achieved by simply believing everything; if we want an agent to have only true beliefs, this could be achieved by believing nothing.
Gist of Idea
To believe maximum truths, believe everything; to have infallible beliefs, believe nothing
Source
J Pollock / J Cruz (Contemporary theories of Knowledge (2nd) [1999], §6.6)
Book Ref
Pollock,J.L./Cruz,J: 'Contemporary Theories of Knowledge (2nd)' [Rowman and Littlefield 1999], p.176
A Reaction
I like this. It highlights the pragmatic need for a middle road, in which a core set of beliefs are going to be approved of as 'knowledge', so that we can get on with life. This has to be a social matter, and needs flexibility of Fallibilism.
The
22 ideas
from J Pollock / J Cruz
6346
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The main epistemological theories are foundationalist, coherence, probabilistic and reliabilist
[Pollock/Cruz]
|
6351
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Most people now agree that our reasoning proceeds defeasibly, rather than deductively
[Pollock/Cruz]
|
6352
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Enumerative induction gives a universal judgement, while statistical induction gives a proportion
[Pollock/Cruz]
|
6354
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Coherence theories fail, because they can't accommodate perception as the basis of knowledge
[Pollock/Cruz]
|
6355
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Direct realism says justification is partly a function of pure perceptual states, not of beliefs
[Pollock/Cruz]
|
6353
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People rarely have any basic beliefs, and never enough for good foundations
[Pollock/Cruz]
|
6357
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Reason cannot be an ultimate foundation, because rational justification requires prior beliefs
[Pollock/Cruz]
|
6358
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One belief may cause another, without being the basis for the second belief
[Pollock/Cruz]
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6359
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Phenomenalism offered conclusive perceptual knowledge, but conclusive reasons no longer seem essential
[Pollock/Cruz]
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6360
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Scientific confirmation is best viewed as inference to the best explanation
[Pollock/Cruz]
|
6361
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Foundationalism requires self-justification, not incorrigibility
[Pollock/Cruz]
|
6362
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Sense evidence is not beliefs, because they are about objective properties, not about appearances
[Pollock/Cruz]
|
6363
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Foundationalism is wrong, because either all beliefs are prima facie justified, or none are
[Pollock/Cruz]
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6364
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We can't start our beliefs from scratch, because we wouldn't know where to start
[Pollock/Cruz]
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6365
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Negative coherence theories do not require reasons, so have no regress problem
[Pollock/Cruz]
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6366
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Perception causes beliefs in us, without inference or justification
[Pollock/Cruz]
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6367
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Coherence theories isolate justification from the world
[Pollock/Cruz]
|
6370
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Externalism comes as 'probabilism' (probability of truth) and 'reliabilism' (probability of good cognitive process)
[Pollock/Cruz]
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6371
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Bayesian epistemology is Bayes' Theorem plus the 'simple rule' (believe P if it is probable)
[Pollock/Cruz]
|
6372
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Since every tautology has a probability of 1, should we believe all tautologies?
[Pollock/Cruz]
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6373
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Internalism says if anything external varies, the justifiability of the belief does not vary
[Pollock/Cruz]
|
6374
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To believe maximum truths, believe everything; to have infallible beliefs, believe nothing
[Pollock/Cruz]
|