Economics Dictionary of ArgumentsHome
| |||
|
| |||
| Reliability theory, philosophy: reliability theory is a theory about the occurrence of knowledge. It attempts to explain how subjects in some cases have knowledge, without being able to explain this knowledge for themselves and others. See also causal theory of knowledge, knowledge, regularity, unconscious._____________Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. – Lexicon of Arguments. | |||
| Author | Concept | Summary/Quotes | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Hartry Field on Reliability Theory - Dictionary of Arguments
II 96 Reliability Theory/Reliability/FieldVsReliability theory: Problem: most people are not reliable about politics. False: to say that they are under "abnormal conditions". Correct: they are not under optimal conditions. Problem: Optimum: is difficult to determine non-intentionally. Problem: E.g. a sect member is not reliable in relation to reality but reliable in relation to the opinions of the guru. Cf. >Bounded optimality. II 99 Solution: FieldVsStalnaker: Stalnaker needs something that he does not want: more delicate belief states than those with Boolean structure. >Beliefs/Stalnaker, >Belief states. II 369 Reliability/Field: cannot be everything we strive for. For example, there are completely reliable inductive rules: e.g. to believe in nothing at all, no matter what evidence there is. - E.g. to only believe in logical truths. But the theory of reliability wants more. It wants to pick out a special class which constitutes the rationality of a believe. Reliability/Field: is divided into many different terms: a) over short - over long time b) high probability, exact truth - high probability approximate truth c) providing reliability in the actual world. Reliability via a lot of similar possible worlds. >Possible worlds. II 380 Reliability/Field: For example, an initial observation turns out to be wrong. - Three possibilities: i): The rule is not reliable at the beginning, but it becomes more reliable. ii) there is no rule at the beginning, the later ones are better. (FieldVs, GoldmanVs.) Vs: this makes reliability unreachable and declares us to be unreasonable forever. iii) The rule was always reliable, only the observation period was too short. II 384 Field: we also need goals and effectiveness: then a rule can be more reliable but less powerful._____________Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals indicate the source, arabic numerals indicate the page number. The corresponding books are indicated on the right hand side. ((s)…): Comment by the sender of the contribution. Translations: Dictionary of Arguments The note [Concept/Author], [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] resp. "problem:"/"solution:", "old:"/"new:" and "thesis:" is an addition from the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page numbers refer to this edition. |
Field I H. Field Realism, Mathematics and Modality Oxford New York 1989 Field II H. Field Truth and the Absence of Fact Oxford New York 2001 Field III H. Field Science without numbers Princeton New Jersey 1980 Field IV Hartry Field "Realism and Relativism", The Journal of Philosophy, 76 (1982), pp. 553-67 In Theories of Truth, Paul Horwich, Aldershot 1994 |
||
> Counter arguments against Field
> Counter arguments in relation to Reliability Theory
