Single Idea 21626

[catalogued under 13. Knowledge Criteria / A. Justification Problems / 1. Justification / a. Justification issues]

Full Idea

The failure of the KK principle is not news. The standard counterexamples involve knowing subjects who lack the concept of knowledge, or have not reflected on their knowledge, and therefore do not know that they know.

Clarification

The KK principle is knowing that you know

Gist of Idea

Knowing you know (KK) is usually denied if the knowledge concept is missing, or not considered

Source

Timothy Williamson (Vagueness [1994], 8.2)

Book Reference

Williamson,Timothy: 'Vagueness' [Routledge 1996], p.225


A Reaction

There is also the timid but knowledgeable pupil, who can't believe they know so much. The simplest case would be if we accept that animals know lots of things, but are largely devoid of any metathinking.