Central and East European
Society for Phenomenology

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234708

Epistemology versus non-causal realism

Jared Warren

pp. 1643-1662

Abstract

This paper formulates a general epistemological argument against what I call non-causal realism, generalizing domain specific arguments by Benacerraf, Field, and others. First I lay out the background to the argument, making a number of distinctions that are sometimes missed in discussions of epistemological arguments against realism. Then I define the target of the argument—non-causal realism—and argue that any non-causal realist theory, no matter the subject matter, cannot be given a reasonable epistemology and so should be rejected. Finally I discuss and respond to several possible responses to the argument. In addition to clearing up and avoiding numerous misunderstandings of arguments of this kind that are quite common in the literature, this paper aims to present and endorse a rigorous and fully general epistemological argument against realism.

Publication details

Published in:

Dutant Julien, Fassio Davide, Meylan Anne (2017) Truth & epistemic norms. Synthese 194 (5).

Pages: 1643-1662

DOI: 10.1007/s11229-015-1010-z

Full citation:

Warren Jared (2017) „Epistemology versus non-causal realism“. Synthese 194 (5), 1643–1662.