Being in a position to know is the norm of assertion

Willard-Kyle, C. (2020) Being in a position to know is the norm of assertion. Pacific Philosophical Quarterly, 101(2), pp. 328-352. (doi: 10.1111/papq.12305)

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Abstract

This paper defends a new norm of assertion: Assert that p only if you are in a position to know that p. We test the norm by judging its performance in explaining three phenomena that appear jointly inexplicable at first: Moorean paradoxes, lottery propositions, and selfless assertions. The norm succeeds by tethering unassertability to unknowability while untethering belief from assertion. The PtK‐norm foregrounds the public nature of assertion as a practice that can be other‐regarding, allowing asserters to act in the best interests of their audience when psychological pressures would otherwise prevent them from communicating the knowable truth.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Willard-Kyle, Dr Christopher
Authors: Willard-Kyle, C.
College/School:College of Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities > Philosophy
Journal Name:Pacific Philosophical Quarterly
Publisher:Wiley
ISSN:0279-0750
ISSN (Online):1468-0114
Published Online:28 January 2020

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