Abstract
Reliabilism furnishes an account of basic knowledge that circumvents the problem of the given. However, reliabilism and other epistemological theories that countenance basic knowledge have been criticized for permitting all-too-easy higher-level knowledge. In this paper, I describe the problem of easy knowledge, look briefly at proposed solutions, and then develop my own. I argue that the easy knowledge problem, as it applies to reliabilism, hinges on a false and too crude understanding of ‘reliable’. With a more plausible conception of ‘reliable’, a simple and elegant solution emerges.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Altschul, J. (2011). Entitlement, justification, and the bootstrapping problem. Acta Analytica, online first, doi:10.1007/s12136-011-0136-y
Armstrong D. (1973) Belief, truth and knowledge. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Becker K. (2008) Epistemic luck and the generality problem. Philosophical Studies 139(3): 353–366
Becker K. (2012) Basic knowledge and easy understanding. Acta Analytica 27(2): 145–161
Baumann P. (2012) Nozick’s defense of closure. In: Becker K., Black T. (eds) The sensitivity principle in epistemology.. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 11–27
Black T. (2008) Solving the problem of easy knowledge. The Philosophical Quarterly 58(233): 597–617
Cohen S. (2002) Basic knowledge and the problem of easy knowledge. Philosophy and Phenomenological Research LXV(2): 309–329
Cohen S. (2005) Why basic knowledge is easy knowledge. Philosophy and Phenomenological Research LXX(2): 417–30
Douven, I., & Kelp, C. (2012). Proper bootstrapping, Synthese, online first, doi:10.1007/s11229-012-0115-x
Dretske F. (1971) Conclusive reasons. Australasian Journal of Philosophy 49(1): 1–22
Feldman R. (1985) Reliability and justification. The Monist 68: 159–174
Goldman A. (1976) Discrimination and perceptual knowledge. Journal of Philosophy 73(20): 771–791
Goldman A. (1979) What is justified belief?. In: Pappas G. (eds) Justification and knowledge.. D. Reidel, Dordrecht, pp 1–23
Greco J. (2000) Putting skeptics in their place. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Kornblith H. (2009) A reliabilist solution to the problem of promiscuous bootstrapping. Analysis 69(2): 263–267
Markie P. (2005) Easy knowledge. Philosophy and Phenomenological Research LXX(2): 406–416
Neta R. (2005) A contextualist solution to the problem of easy knowledge. Grazer Philosophische Studien 69: 183–205
Nozick R. (1981) Philosophical explanations. Harvard University Press, Cambridge
Plantinga A. (1993) Warrant and proper function. Oxford University Press, New York
Pritchard D. (2012) Anti-luck virtue epistemology. Journal of Philosophy CIX(3): 247–279
Titelbaum M. (2010) Tell me you love me: Bootstrapping, externalism, and no-lose epistemology. Philosophical Studies 149(1): 119–134
Vogel J. (2000) Reliabilism leveled. The Journal of Philosophy 97(11): 602–623
Weisberg J. (2010) Bootstrapping in general. Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 81(3): 525–548
Williamson T. (2000) Knowledge and its limits. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Becker, K. Why reliabilism does not permit easy knowledge. Synthese 190, 3751–3775 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-012-0222-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-012-0222-8