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Single Idea 7058

[from 'From an Ontological Point of View' by John Heil, in 18. Thought / C. Content / 6. Broad Content ]

Full Idea

Some externalists focus on causal-historical connections, others emphasise social matters (especially thinkers' linguistic communities), still others focus on biological function.

Gist of Idea

Externalism is causal-historical, or social, or biological

Source

John Heil (From an Ontological Point of View [2003], 18.5 n6)

Book Reference

Heil,John: 'From an Ontological Point of View' [OUP 2005], p.215


A Reaction

Helpful. The social view strikes me as the one to take most seriously (allowing for contextual views of justification, and for the social role of experts). The problem is to combine the social view with realism and a robust view of truth.