more from David Lewis

Single Idea 16281

[catalogued under 1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 5. Aims of Philosophy / a. Philosophy as worldly]

Full Idea

The maxim of honesty: never put forward a philosophical theory that you yourself cannot believe in your least philosophical and most commonsensical moments.

Gist of Idea

Honesty requires philosophical theories we can commit to with our ordinary commonsense

Source

David Lewis (On the Plurality of Worlds [1986], 2.8)

Book Reference

Lewis,David: 'On the Plurality of Worlds' [Blackwell 2001], p.135


A Reaction

I take it as important that this test is according to the philosopher's commonsense, and not according to some populist idea. This would allow, for example, for commonsense to be sensitive to scientific knowledge, or awareness of the logic.