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Disagreement, Certainties, Relativism.
1Department of Philosophy, University of Vienna, Universitätsstrasse 7, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
Topoi : an International Review of Philosophy
|November 8, 2021
Summary
This study explores how Ludwig Wittgenstein's philosophy informs discussions on epistemic peer disagreement. It argues that certainties vary, and disagreements over them can be reasonable, depending on the certainty's nature.
Area of Science:
- Epistemology
- Philosophy of Mind
- Philosophy of Language
Background:
- The "epistemology of peer disagreement" traditionally examines how to respond when an epistemic peer (someone with equal intellectual resources and opportunity for correct judgment) disagrees with one's belief.
- Ludwig Wittgenstein's later philosophy, particularly his posthumously published work "On Certainty," offers a unique perspective on certainty, knowledge, and belief.
Purpose of the Study:
- To bridge the "epistemology of peer disagreement" with insights from Wittgenstein's "On Certainty."
- To analyze the nature of certainty and its implications for how we understand and respond to disagreements among epistemic peers.
Main Methods:
- Philosophical analysis of key concepts in "On Certainty."
- Interpreting Wittgenstein's views on certainty, belief, and groundless beliefs.
Main Results:
- Argues that not all certainties are groundless; many are beliefs without a common essence.
- Asserts that an epistemic peer does not need to share all of one's certainties.
- Demonstrates that the appropriate response to disagreement over a certainty (e.g., steadfastness, conciliationism) is contingent on the type of certainty, sometimes necessitating a relativistic approach.
- Establishes the possibility of reasonable, mutually recognized peer disagreement concerning certainty.
Conclusions:
- Wittgenstein's philosophy provides a valuable framework for understanding peer disagreement over certainties.
- Recognizing the diverse nature of certainties allows for more nuanced and appropriate responses to epistemic peer disagreement.
- This approach enriches both systematic and interpretative dimensions of the peer disagreement debate.