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Single Idea 2746

[from 'Intro to Contemporary Epistemology' by Jonathan Dancy, in 13. Knowledge Criteria / C. External Justification / 2. Causal Justification ]

Full Idea

How can a causal analysis of justification show that I know that all men die?

Gist of Idea

How can a causal theory of justification show that all men die?

Source

Jonathan Dancy (Intro to Contemporary Epistemology [1985], 2.3)

Book Reference

Dancy,Jonathan: 'Introduction to Contemporary Epistemology' [Blackwell 1985], p.34


A Reaction

I presume he means that inductive generalisations can't be purely causal. The claim that men are immortal is absurd because it is 'unconnected' to what actually happens.