more from this thinker | more from this text
Full Idea
External considerations of reliability could not be internalized. Consequently, it is in principle impossible for us to actually employ externalist norms. I take this to be a conclusive refutation of belief externalism.
Clarification
'Norms' are principles guiding actions
Gist of Idea
Belief externalism is false, because external considerations cannot be internalized for actual use
Source
John L. Pollock (Epistemic Norms [1986], 'Ref.of Extern')
Book Ref
'Epistemology - An Anthology', ed/tr. Sosa,E. /Kim,J. [Blackwell 2000], p.197
A Reaction
Not so fast. He earlier rejected the 'intellectualist model' (Idea 8813), so he doesn't think norms have to be fully conscious and open to criticism. So they could be innate, or the result of indoctrination (sorry, teaching), or just forgotten.
Related Idea
Idea 8813 If we have to appeal explicitly to epistemic norms, that will produce an infinite regress [Pollock]
| 8815 | Belief externalism is false, because external considerations cannot be internalized for actual use [Pollock] |
| 3702 | Externalism means we have no reason to believe, which is strong scepticism [Bonjour] |
| 4260 | Even if there is no obvious irrationality, it may be irrational to base knowledge entirely on external criteria [Bonjour] |
| 8852 | In the context of scepticism, externalism does not seem to be an option [Williams,M] |
| 19733 | Externalist theories don't explain why knowledge has value [Greco] |
| 19495 | Epistemic externalism struggles to capture the idea of epistemic responsibility [Pritchard,D] |
| 19711 | Externalism makes the acquisition of knowledge too easy? [Vahid] |