Virtue perspectivism, externalism, and epistemic circularity

Carter, J. A. (2019) Virtue perspectivism, externalism, and epistemic circularity. In: Crețu, A.-M. and Massimi, M. (eds.) Knowledge From a Human Point of View. Series: Synthese library (Studies in epistemology, logic, methodology, and philosophy of science), 416. Springer: Cham, pp. 123-140. ISBN 9783030270407 (doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-27041-4_8)

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Abstract

Virtue perspectivism is a bi-level epistemology according to which there are two grades of knowledge: animal and reflective. The exercise of reliable competences suffices to give us animal knowledge; but we can then use these same competences to gain a second-order assuring perspective, one through which we may appreciate those faculties as reliable and in doing so place our first-order (animal) knowledge in a competent second-order perspective. Virtue perspectivism has considerable theoretical power, especially when it comes to vindicating our external world knowledge against threats of scepticism and regress. Prominent critics, however, doubt whether the view ultimately hangs together without succumbing to vicious circularity. In this paper, I am going to focus on circularity-based criticisms of virtue perspectivism raised in various places by Barry Stroud, Baron Reed and Richard Fumerton, and I will argue that virtue perspectivism can ultimately withstand each of them.

Item Type:Book Sections
Additional Information:eISBN: 9783030270414.
Status:Published
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Carter, Professor J Adam
Authors: Carter, J. A.
Subjects:B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General)
College/School:College of Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities > Philosophy
Publisher:Springer
ISBN:9783030270407
Copyright Holders:Copyright © The Author(s) 2020
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons license

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