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Single Idea 9160

[from 'Apriority as an Evaluative Notion' by Hartry Field, in 12. Knowledge Sources / A. A Priori Knowledge / 6. A Priori from Reason ]

Full Idea

Propositions such as 'People usually tell the truth' seem to count as default reasonable, but it is odd to count them as a priori. Empirical indefeasibility seems the obvious way to distinguish those default reasonable propositions that are a priori.

Clarification

'Indefeasible' means there are no counterexamples

Gist of Idea

Lots of propositions are default reasonable, but the a priori ones are empirically indefeasible

Source

Hartry Field (Apriority as an Evaluative Notion [2000], 1)

Book Reference

'New Essays on the A Priori', ed/tr. Boghossian,P /Peacocke,C [OUP 2000], p.120


A Reaction

Sounds reasonable, but it would mean that all the uniformities of nature would then count as a priori. 'Every physical object exerts gravity' probably has no counterexamples, but doesn't seem a priori (even if it is necessary). See Idea 9164.

Related Idea

Idea 9164 We treat basic rules as if they were indefeasible and a priori, with no interest in counter-evidence [Field,H]