Single Idea 3790

[catalogued under 13. Knowledge Criteria / C. External Justification / 2. Causal Justification]

Full Idea

The causes of our belief in a proposition are indeed irrelevant to the question of what we believe.

Gist of Idea

Causes of beliefs are irrelevant to their contents

Source

Ludwig Wittgenstein (Zettel [1950], i.437)

Book Reference

Dennett,Daniel C.: 'Elbow Room - Free will worth wanting' [MIT 1999], p.27


A Reaction

This should have nipped the causal theory of knowledge in the bud before it got started. Everyone has a different cause for their belief that 'it sometimes rains'. Cause is not justification.