The contingent a priori: a reply
In 'Reference and Contingency', Monist 62 (1979) pp. 161-89, Gareth Evans tried to explain how a priori knowledge of contingent truths is possible by arguing that indexical features of the truths in question make them contingent only in a superficial sense. In 'The Contingent A Priori...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Blackwell Publishing
1988
|
| Subjects: |
| _version_ | 1826281541946310656 |
|---|---|
| author | Williamson, T |
| author2 | Analysis Trust |
| author_facet | Analysis Trust Williamson, T |
| author_sort | Williamson, T |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | In 'Reference and Contingency', Monist 62 (1979) pp. 161-89, Gareth Evans tried to explain how a priori knowledge of contingent truths is possible by arguing that indexical features of the truths in question make them contingent only in a superficial sense. In 'The Contingent A Priori: Has it Anything to do with Indexicals?', ANALYSIS 46.3, June 1986, pp. 113-7, I suggested that his explanation is inadequate, since a priori knowledge is also possible of deeply contingent truths with no relevant indexical features. Graham Oppy disagrees; in 'Williamson and the Contingent A Priori', ANALYSIS 47.4, October 1987, pp. 188-93, he claims to have detected hidden indexicality in my examples. I argued that beliefs formed by the following method (M) constitute a priori knowledge: (M) Given a valid deduction from the premiss that someone believes that P to the conclusion that P, believe that P. If one puts 'There is at least one believer' for 'P', the a priori knowledge is of a non-indexical contingent truth. It will not be necessary to rehearse the details of this argument in order to explain why I do not find Oppy's objections persuasive. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T00:30:22Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:7f9414fc-da1b-4c96-bded-81f3ad46a5a0 |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T00:30:22Z |
| publishDate | 1988 |
| publisher | Blackwell Publishing |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:7f9414fc-da1b-4c96-bded-81f3ad46a5a02022-03-26T21:17:46ZThe contingent a priori: a replyJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:7f9414fc-da1b-4c96-bded-81f3ad46a5a0PhilosophyEnglishOxford University Research Archive - ValetBlackwell Publishing1988Williamson, TAnalysis TrustIn 'Reference and Contingency', Monist 62 (1979) pp. 161-89, Gareth Evans tried to explain how a priori knowledge of contingent truths is possible by arguing that indexical features of the truths in question make them contingent only in a superficial sense. In 'The Contingent A Priori: Has it Anything to do with Indexicals?', ANALYSIS 46.3, June 1986, pp. 113-7, I suggested that his explanation is inadequate, since a priori knowledge is also possible of deeply contingent truths with no relevant indexical features. Graham Oppy disagrees; in 'Williamson and the Contingent A Priori', ANALYSIS 47.4, October 1987, pp. 188-93, he claims to have detected hidden indexicality in my examples. I argued that beliefs formed by the following method (M) constitute a priori knowledge: (M) Given a valid deduction from the premiss that someone believes that P to the conclusion that P, believe that P. If one puts 'There is at least one believer' for 'P', the a priori knowledge is of a non-indexical contingent truth. It will not be necessary to rehearse the details of this argument in order to explain why I do not find Oppy's objections persuasive. |
| spellingShingle | Philosophy Williamson, T The contingent a priori: a reply |
| title | The contingent a priori: a reply |
| title_full | The contingent a priori: a reply |
| title_fullStr | The contingent a priori: a reply |
| title_full_unstemmed | The contingent a priori: a reply |
| title_short | The contingent a priori: a reply |
| title_sort | contingent a priori a reply |
| topic | Philosophy |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT williamsont thecontingentaprioriareply AT williamsont contingentaprioriareply |