The late John L. Mackie, formerly of University College, Oxford.

1. Causal knowledge is an indispensable element in science. Causal assertions are embedded in both the results and the procedures of scientific investigation. 2. It is therefore worthwhile to investigate the meaning of causal statements and the ways in which we can arrive at causal knowledge.

Annotation In this book Mr. Mackie selects for critical discussion six related topic which are prominent in John Locke's Essay concerning Human Understanding: ...

First Published in 1980. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

J. L. Mackie; XIII—The Possibility of Innate Knowledge, Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society, Volume 70, Issue 1, 1 June 1970, Pages 245–260, https://doi.org.

The paradoxical view of warnock and hodgson that act-Utilitarianism must have disutility is criticised. Simple examples in game theory style show that it does not defeat the possibility of cooperation and that it allows an approximation to truth-Telling. Promising would indeed have only a limited role in an act-Utilitarian society, But that is because its normal function is to aid compromise between divergent purposes. Also, The efforts of a single act-Utilitarian in a non-Act-Utilitarian society need not frustrate themselves, If he (...) is not too candid. (shrink)

J. L. Mackie; XIII—The Possibility of Innate Knowledge, Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society, Volume 70, Issue 1, 1 June 1970, Pages 245–260, https://doi.org.