Combining Texts

Ideas for 'Brain Bisection and Unity of Consciousness', 'Epistemic Norms' and 'The Theory of Epistemic Rationality'

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3 ideas

13. Knowledge Criteria / C. External Justification / 1. External Justification
Norm Externalism says norms must be internal, but their selection is partly external [Pollock]
     Full Idea: Norm Externalism acknowledges that the content of our epistemic norms must be internalist, but employs external considerations in the selection of the norms themselves.
     From: John L. Pollock (Epistemic Norms [1986], 'Ep.Norms')
     A reaction: It can't be right that you just set your own norms, so this must contain some truth. Equally, even the most hardened externalist can't deny that what goes on in the head of the person concerned must have some relevance.
Externalists tend to take a third-person point of view of epistemology [Pollock]
     Full Idea: Externalists tend to take a third-person point of view in discussing epistemology.
     From: John L. Pollock (Epistemic Norms [1986], 'Ref.of Extern')
     A reaction: Pollock's point, quite reasonably, is that the first-person aspect must precede any objective assessment of whether someone knows. External facts, such as unpublicised information, can undermine high quality internal justification.
13. Knowledge Criteria / C. External Justification / 10. Anti External Justification
Belief externalism is false, because external considerations cannot be internalized for actual use [Pollock]
     Full Idea: External considerations of reliability could not be internalized. Consequently, it is in principle impossible for us to actually employ externalist norms. I take this to be a conclusive refutation of belief externalism.
     From: John L. Pollock (Epistemic Norms [1986], 'Ref.of Extern')
     A reaction: Not so fast. He earlier rejected the 'intellectualist model' (Idea 8813), so he doesn't think norms have to be fully conscious and open to criticism. So they could be innate, or the result of indoctrination (sorry, teaching), or just forgotten.