Single Idea 2738

[catalogued under 13. Knowledge Criteria / C. External Justification / 1. External Justification]

Full Idea

If someone consistently prophesied the winners of horse races, it appears that this man knows who will win the races, but surely he does not have justified beliefs as to who will win?

Gist of Idea

Consistent accurate prediction looks like knowledge without justified belief

Source

Robert Audi (Epistemology: contemporary introduction [1998], VIII p.229)

Book Reference

Audi,Robert: 'Epistemology: a contemporary introduction' [Routledge 1998], p.229


A Reaction

This is where internalists and externalists (notably reliabilists) sharply part company. IF a reliable clairvoyant appeared, we would eventually accept them as a knower. But they DON'T appear, because knowledge needs justification!