Single Idea 9356

[catalogued under 12. Knowledge Sources / A. A Priori Knowledge / 11. Denying the A Priori]

Full Idea

The whole idea of the a priori is too obscure for it to feature in a good explanation of our knowledge of anything.

Gist of Idea

The idea of the a priori is so obscure that it won't explain anything

Source

Michael Devitt (There is no a Priori [2005], §3)

Book Reference

'Contemporary Debates in Epistemology', ed/tr. Steup,M/Sosa,E [Blackwell 2005], p.111


A Reaction

I never like this style of argument. It would be nice if all the components of all our our explanations were crystal clear. Total clarity about anything is probably a hopeless dream, and we may have to settle for murky corners in all explanations.