Epistemology: 9. Infallible True Belief (2)

Question 1

What is the logical error in the argument for infallibilism?

Answer 1

• logical error regarding the meaning of ‘can’t’ in the statement: ‘If I know that p, then I can’t be mistaken about p’ has more than one meaning, depending on how one understands ‘can’t

Question 2

What are the two interpretations of ‘can’t’ in the context of infallibilism?

Answer 2

C1a: It can’t be the case that if I know that p, I am mistaken that p.
C1b: If I know that p, I can’t possibly be mistaken that p.
-not only am I NOT mistaken, but I CAN’T possibly be mistaken that p.

Question 3

Why is C1b a stronger claim than C1a?

Answer 3

C1b is stronger because it asserts that not only am I not mistaken, but I can’t possibly be mistaken that p.

Question 4

What fallacy does infallibilism commit?

Answer 4

-A fallacy of equivocation between ‘It can’t be the case’ and ‘I can’t possibly be mistaken’.
-Two claims are distinct
- One is a claim about whether I am mistaken, and the other is a claim about whether I could be mistaken.

Question 5

What does the objection to infallibilism highlight?

Answer 5

The objection highlights the inherent limitations of human cognition and the complexities of the world that introduce doubt and uncertainty into our beliefs.

Question 6

What are the implications of setting a high standard for knowledge according to the objection to infallibilism?

Answer 6

Setting a high standard for knowledge may lead to skepticism and undermine our ability to make meaningful claims about the world.

Question 7

What are the practical issues with infallibilism’s definition of knowledge?

Answer 7

Infallibilism’s definition is impractical as it would require significant changes in language and lead to skepticism about beliefs we almost certainly know.

Question 8

How does infallibilism affect beliefs related to conspiracy theories?

Answer 8

Infallibilism can be exploited by conspiracy theories to equate biased guesses with academic theories.

Question 9

What is the impact of infallibilism on animal and child knowledge?

Answer 9

Infallibilism almost entirely eliminates animal and child knowledge as they cannot justify their knowledge or demonstrate certainty.

Question 10

What discrepancy does infallibilism highlight regarding knowledge?

Answer 10

Infallibilism highlights the discrepancy between the ideal of infallibility and the practical realities of cognitive development and non-human cognition.