Could Reliability Naturally Imply Safety?

The aim of the present paper is to argue that robust virtue epistemology is correct. That is, a complete account of knowledge is not in need for an additional modal criterion in order to account for knowledge-undermining epistemic luck. I begin by presenting the problems facing robust virtue epistem...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:European Journal of Philosophy Vol. 23; no. 4; pp. 1192 - 1209
Autor principal: Palermos, Spyridon Orestis
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Wiley-Blackwell Dec2015
Materias:
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:The aim of the present paper is to argue that robust virtue epistemology is correct. That is, a complete account of knowledge is not in need for an additional modal criterion in order to account for knowledge-undermining epistemic luck. I begin by presenting the problems facing robust virtue epistemology by examining two prominent counter examples--the Barney and 'epistemic twin earth' cases. After proposing a way in which virtue epistemology can explain away these two problematic cases, thereby, implying that cognitive abilities are also safe, I offer a naturalistic explanation in support of this last claim, inspired by evolutionary epistemology. Finally, I argue that naturalized epistemology should not be thought of as being exclusively descriptive. On the contrary, the evolutionary story I offer in support of the claim that reliability implies safety can provide us with a plausible epistemic norm.