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EPISTEMIC VALUE AND ACHIEVEMENT.
- Source :
-
Ratio . Jun2012, Vol. 25 Issue 2, p216-230. 15p. - Publication Year :
- 2012
-
Abstract
- Knowledge seems to be a good thing, or at least better than epistemic states that fall short of it, such as true belief. Understanding too seems to be a good thing, perhaps better even than knowledge. In a number of recent publications, Duncan Pritchard tries to account for the value of understanding by claiming that understanding is a cognitive achievement and that achievements in general are valuable. In this paper, I argue that coming to understand something need not be an achievement, and so Pritchard's explanation of understanding's value fails. Next, I point out that Pritchard's is just one of many attempts to account for the value of an epistemic state - whether it be understanding, knowledge, or whatever - by appeal to the notion of achievement or, more generally, the notion of success because of ability. Tentatively, I offer reasons to be sceptical about the prospects of any such account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *THEORY of knowledge
*PHILOSOPHY
*INTELLECT
*COGNITION
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00340006
- Volume :
- 25
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Ratio
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 74043156
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9329.2012.00533.x