The knowledge norm for enquiry

Willard-Kyle, C. (2023) The knowledge norm for enquiry. Journal of Philosophy, 120(11), pp. 615-640. (doi: 10.5840/jphil20231201134)

Abstract

A growing number of epistemologists have endorsed the Ignorance Norm for Inquiry. Roughly, this norm says that one should not inquire into a question unless one is ignorant of its answer. I argue that, in addition to ignorance, proper inquiry requires a certain kind of knowledge. Roughly, one should not inquire into a question unless one knows it has a true answer. I call this the Knowledge Norm for Inquiry. Proper inquiry walks a fine line, holding knowledge that there is an answer in the left hand and ignorance of the answer in the right.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: Funding: I am also grateful to Therme Group for funding this project.
• 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: Journal of Philosophy
• Publisher: Journal of Philosophy
• ISSN: 0022-362X
• ISSN (Online): 1939-8549
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Journal of Philosophy, Inc.
• First Published: First published in 120(11):615-640
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy