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Single Idea 6800

[filed under theme 13. Knowledge Criteria / A. Justification Problems / 1. Justification / b. Need for justification ]

Full Idea

Many philosophers take the notion of justification to be more important or more basic than the concept of knowledge.

Gist of Idea

Many philosophers rate justification as a more important concept than knowledge

Source

Alexander Bird (Philosophy of Science [1998], Ch.7)

Book Ref

Bird,Alexander: 'Philosophy of Science' [UCL Press 2000], p.235


A Reaction

Intriguing. Given the obvious social and conventional element in 'knowledge' ("do we agree that the candidate really knows the answer?"), justification may well be closer to where the real action is. 'Logos', after all, is at the heart of philosophy.


The 12 ideas with the same theme [why knowledge needs justification]:

As a guide to action, true opinion is as good as knowledge [Plato]
True belief without knowledge is like blind people on the right road [Plato]
True opinion without reason is midway between wisdom and ignorance [Plato]
An inadequate rational account would still not justify knowledge [Plato]
To know something we need understanding, which is grasp of the primary cause [Aristotle]
Fools, infants and madmen may speak truly, but do not know [Sext.Empiricus]
Believing without a reason may just be love of your own fantasies [Locke]
Justification is neither sufficient nor necessary for knowledge [Lewis]
What we want to know is - when is it all right to believe something? [Pollock]
If value is practical, knowledge is no better than true opinion [Greco]
Many philosophers rate justification as a more important concept than knowledge [Bird]
If knowledge is unanalysable, that makes justification more important [Dougherty/Rysiew]