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Single Idea 8805

[from 'Coherence Theory of Truth and Knowledge' by Donald Davidson, in 13. Knowledge Criteria / D. Scepticism / 6. Scepticism Critique ]

Full Idea

What stands in the way of global skepticism of the senses is the fact that we must take the objects of a belief to be the causes of that belief. And our utterances mean the same thing because belief in their truth is caused by the same objects.

Gist of Idea

Skepticism is false because our utterances agree, because they are caused by the same objects

Source

Donald Davidson (Coherence Theory of Truth and Knowledge [1983], p.161)

Book Reference

'Epistemology - An Anthology', ed/tr. Sosa,E. /Kim,J. [Blackwell 2000], p.161


A Reaction

This is hardly a knock-down argument against scepticism, but it builds a nice picture. The second half extends the Private Language Argument (e.g. Idea 4158). But I still have non-existent conversations about non-existent things in my dreams.

Related Idea

Idea 4158 An 'inner process' stands in need of outward criteria [Wittgenstein]