Moore’s proof, theory-ladenness of perception, and many proofs

Philosophical Studies 177 (8):2163-2183 (2020)
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Abstract

I argue that if we allow that Moore’s Method, which involves taking an ordinary knowledge claim to support a substantive metaphysical conclusion, can be used to support Moore’s proof an external world, then we should accept that Moore’s Method can be used to support a variety of incompatible metaphysical conclusions. I shall refer to this as “the problem of many proofs”. The problem of many proofs, I claim, stems from the theory-ladenness of perception. I shall argue further that this plethora of proofs for incompatible positions leads to a darker form of skepticism, one which maintains that each of the dogmatic views is probably false. We will conclude by considering various ways a Moorean might respond to these difficulties.

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Mark Walker
New Mexico State University

Citations of this work

Recent Work on Skepticism in Epistemology.Chris Ranalli - 2023 - American Philosophical Quarterly 60 (3):257-273.

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Patterns of discovery.Norwood Russell Hanson - 1958 - Cambridge [Eng.]: University Press.
Warrant for nothing (and foundations for free)?Crispin Wright - 2004 - Aristotelian Society Supplementary Volume 78 (1):167–212.
Epistemological disjunctivism.Duncan Pritchard - 2012 - Oxford: Oxford University Press.

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