Single Idea 19545

[catalogued under 13. Knowledge Criteria / A. Justification Problems / 2. Justification Challenges / c. Knowledge closure]

Full Idea

One doesn't have to regret everything one knows to be implied by what one regrets. Tom regrets drinking three martinis, but doesn't regret what he knows to be implied by this - that he drank 'something', or that the past is real.

Gist of Idea

We needn't regret the implications of our regrets; regretting drinking too much implies the past is real

Source

Fred Dretske (The Case against Closure (and reply) [2005], p.28)

Book Reference

'Contemporary Debates in Epistemology (2nd ed)', ed/tr. Steup/Turri/Sosa [Wiley Blackwell 2014], p.28


A Reaction

A nice case of analogy! He's right about regret. Perceptual and inferential knowledge have different grounds. To deny inferential knowledge seems to be a denial that modus ponens can be a justification. But MP gives truth, not knowledge.

Related Idea

Idea 16307 Don't trust analogies; they are no more than a guideline [Halbach]