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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]
8820 | Rules of reasoning precede the concept of truth, and they are what characterize it [Pollock] |
8819 | We need the concept of truth for defeasible reasoning [Pollock] |
8818 | Defeasible reasoning requires us to be able to think about our thoughts [Pollock] |
8823 | Reasons are always for beliefs, but a perceptual state is a reason without itself being a belief [Pollock] |
8812 | Norm Externalism says norms must be internal, but their selection is partly external [Pollock] |
8811 | What we want to know is - when is it all right to believe something? [Pollock] |
8813 | If we have to appeal explicitly to epistemic norms, that will produce an infinite regress [Pollock] |
8814 | Epistemic norms are internalised procedural rules for reasoning [Pollock] |
8822 | Statements about necessities need not be necessarily true [Pollock] |
8817 | Logical entailments are not always reasons for beliefs, because they may be irrelevant [Pollock] |
8816 | Externalists tend to take a third-person point of view of epistemology [Pollock] |
8815 | Belief externalism is false, because external considerations cannot be internalized for actual use [Pollock] |