The tertiary value problem and the superiority of knowledge

Simion, M. and Kelp, C. (2016) The tertiary value problem and the superiority of knowledge. American Philosophical Quarterly, 53(4), pp. 397-409.

Abstract

According to the achievement account (AA) of the value of knowledge, knowledge is finally valuable because it is a species of a finally valuable genus, achievement. The achievement account is said to solve Pritchard's tertiary value problem (TVP), the problem of showing that knowledge enjoys a different kind of value than mere true belief. This paper argues, first, that AA fails to solve TVP, and, second, that Pritchard's motivations for TVP are inadequate. They do, however, motivate a weaker value problem, one that can be solved by showing that knowledge is weakly superior to mere true belief. Finally, third, we argue that knowledge does enjoy this form of weak superiority. Since this argument rests on AA's key species-genus claim, AA can retain the upper hand in the debate.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Kelp, Professor Christoph and Simion, Professor Mona
• Authors: Simion, M., and Kelp, C.
• Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General)
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities > Philosophy
• Journal Name: American Philosophical Quarterly
• Publisher: University of Illinois Press
• ISSN: 0003-0481
• ISSN (Online): 2152-1123
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2016 Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
• First Published: First published in American Philosophical Quarterly 53(4): 397-409
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy