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Center indifference and skepticism.
- Source :
-
Nous . Sep2024, Vol. 58 Issue 3, p778-798. 21p. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Many philosophers have been attracted to a restricted version of the principle of indifference in the case of selfâlocating belief. Roughly speaking, this principle states that, within any given possible world, one should be indifferent between different hypotheses concerning who one is within that possible world, so long as those hypotheses are compatible with one's evidence. My first goal is to defend a more precise version of this principle. After responding to several existing criticisms of such a principle, I argue that existing formulations of the principle are crucially ambiguous, and I go on to defend a particular disambiguation of the principle. According to the disambiguation I defend, how we should apply this restricted principle of indifference sensitively depends on our background metaphysical beliefs. My second goal is to apply this disambiguated principle to classical skeptical problems in epistemology. In particular, I argue that Eternalism threatens to lead us to external world skepticism, and Modal Realism threatens to lead us to inductive skepticism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *PHILOSOPHERS
*THEORY of knowledge
*REALISM
*HYPOTHESIS
*CRITICISM
*SKEPTICISM
*APATHY
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00294624
- Volume :
- 58
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Nous
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 179071242
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/nous.12478