File spoon-archives/bhaskar.archive/bhaskar_2000/bhaskar.0006, message 190


From: "Colin Wight" <Colin.Wight-AT-aber.ac.uk>
Subject: BHA: RE: adjudicating between knowledge claims
Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2000 14:54:51 +0100


Hi,

Justification of what Ruth? That's the CR answer as I understand it. CR
suggests that the epistemological question of justification (how do we know
which account is best) is meaningless in an ontological vacuum. But I guess
we have been here before and you are still hankering after an account (a
theory?) of justification that can cover all cases ;-). CR says no such
account will be forthcoming, because the nature of the object of inquiry
will in some ways determine how we can come to know it. Actually,
Wittgenstein is quite useful therapy here; think for example, how
justification happens "in practice" as opposed to the accounts provided by
epistemologists. Einstein thought that epistemological speculation in
ontological vacuums was jolly good stuff for keeping people with that
inclination amused but that scientists had to be epistemological
opportunists "in practice".


Cheers,



> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-bhaskar-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
> [mailto:owner-bhaskar-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu]On Behalf Of Ruth Groff
> Sent: 21 June 2000 14:29
> To: bhaskar-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
> Subject: BHA: adjudicating between knowledge claims
>
>
> Hiya Brad and all,
>
> First of all, thanks, Viren, for the reference.
>
> And thanks Brad for your thoughtful, interesting post.
>
> I am curious about your one comment.  You wrote (and I'm sure
> most people on
> the list, if not everyone, would agree with you):
>
> >One of the things I have found frustrating with ThCR is that while it is
> >stated that there are ways of deciding upon more or less accurate beliefs
> >about the world (given that there is a reality), the tools to make this
> >decision are rarely, if ever, mentioned. The CR on this list is
> as exciting
> >as the other is frustrating, precisely for the opposite reason.
>
> I'm wondering if you, and/or others, would tell me a little bit more about
> precisely how you see critical realism helping with the issue of how to
> adjudicate between competing accounts -- i.e., broadly speaking, the issue
> of justification.
>
> Warmly,
> Ruth
>
>
>
>      --- from list bhaskar-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
>



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