<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The thesis that knowledge is a partly evaluative concept is now a widespread view in epistemology, informing some prominent debates in the field. Typically, the view is embraced on the grounds that justification is a necessary condition for knowledge and a normative concept — a reasonable motivation. However, the view also has counterintuitive implications, which have been neglected. In particular, it implies that J.L. Mackie’s error-theory of value entails global epistemic scepticism and that any true knowledge claim suffices to prove the error-theory is false. In this paper, I elaborate these difficulties and address objections at length.</p></abstract>

The thesis that knowledge is a partly evaluative concept is now a widespread view in epistemology, informing some prominent debates in the field. Typically, the view is embraced on the grounds that justification is a necessary condition for knowledge and a normative concept — a reasonable motivation. However, the view also has counterintuitive implications, which have been neglected. In particular, it implies that J.L. Mackie’s error-theory of value entails global epistemic scepticism and that any true knowledge claim suffices to prove the error-theory is false. In this paper, I elaborate these difficulties and address objections at length.

Epistemology neutralized

Disputatio

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Epistemology neutralized"}

The thesis that knowledge is a partly evaluative concept is now a widespread view in epistemology, informing some prominent debates in the field. Typically,...

Epistemology neutralized

Published Online: Dec 31, 2018

Page range: 259 - 274

Received: Sep 26, 2009

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/disp-2010-0001

Keywords
Definition of knowledge, epistemic justification, epistemic scepticism, error-theory of value, J.L. Mackie

© 2010 Brian Laetz, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Epistemology neutralized

Published Online: Dec 31, 2018

Page range: 259 - 274

Received: Sep 26, 2009

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/disp-2010-0001

KeywordsDefinition of knowledge, epistemic justification, epistemic scepticism, error-theory of value, J.L. Mackie

© 2010 Brian Laetz, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Definition of knowledge, epistemic justification, epistemic scepticism, error-theory of value, J.L. Mackie