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Single Idea 8899

[from 'Epistemology Naturalized' by Willard Quine, in 13. Knowledge Criteria / C. External Justification / 9. Naturalised Epistemology ]

Full Idea

Epistemology falls into place as a chapter of psychology, and hence of natural science. ..We study meagre input and torrential output, to see how evidence relates to theory, and in what ways one's theory of nature transcends any available evidence.

Gist of Idea

Epistemology is a part of psychology, studying how our theories relate to our evidence

Source

Willard Quine (Epistemology Naturalized [1968], p.83)

Book Reference

Quine,Willard: 'Ontological Relativity and Other Essays' [Columbia 1969], p.83


A Reaction

It depends what you are interested in. If you just want to know what makes humans tick, then Quine is your man, but if you want to know things in general, and want to know how to get it right, then the normative side of epistemology is unavoidable.