Abstract
In this article, we present an analysis of defeasible generalizations — generalizations which are essentially exception-laden, yet genuinely explanatory — in terms of various notions of privileged conditions. We argue that any plausible epistemology must make essential use of defeasible generalizations so understood. We also consider the epistemic significance of the sort of understanding of context that is required for understanding of explanatory defeasible generalizations on any topic.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Aristotle: 1941. ‘Nichomachean Ethics, and Posterior Analytics’, in The Basic Works of Aristotle, Random House, New York.
Bromberger, S.: 1992, On What We Know We Don’t Know: Explanation, Theory, Linguistics, and How Questions Shape Them, University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
Cartwright, N.: 1999, The Dappled World, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Copp, D. (ed.): forthcoming, Oxford Handbook of Ethical Theory, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Crisp, R.: 2000, ‘Particularlizing Particularism’, in Hooker and Little.
Cullity, G.: 2002, ‘Particularism and Moral Theory: Particularism and Presumptive Reasons’, Aristotelian Society 76(Suppl.), 169–190.
Dancy, J.: forthcoming, Practical Reality, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Davidson, D.: 1984, Inquiries into Truth and Interpretation, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Earman, J. and J. Roberts: 1999, ‘Ceteris Paribus’, There is No Problem of Provisos’, Synthese 118(3), 49–78.
Hooker, B. and M. Little (eds.): 2000, Moral Particularism, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Irwin, T. H.: 2000, ‘Ethics as an Inexact Science: Aristotle’s Ambitions for Moral Theory’, in Hooker and Little.
Lange, M.: 2000, Natural Laws in Scientific Practice, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Lance, M. and M. Little, forthcoming, ‘Defending Moral Particularism’, in J. Dwyer (ed), Debates in Ethical Theory, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Lance, M. and M. Little, forthcoming, ‘Particularism and Anti-Theory’, in Oxford Handbook of Ethical Theory, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
McNaughton, D. and P. Rawlings: 2000, ‘Unprincipled Ethics’, in Hooker and Little, 256–275.
Pietroski, P.: 1993, ‘Prima Facie Obligations: Ceteris Paribus Laws in Moral Theory’, Ethics 103(3), 489–515.
Pietroski, P. and G. Rey: 1995, ‘When Other Things Aren’t Equal’, British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 46(1), 81–110.
Pietroski, P.: 1993, ‘Ceteris Paribus Laws in Moral Theory’, Ethics 103(3), 489–515.
Ross, W. D.: 1930, The Right and the Good, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Lance, M., Little, M. (2004). Defeasibility and the Normative Grasp of Context. In: Brendel, E., Jäger, C. (eds) Contextualisms in Epistemology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3835-6_18
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3835-6_18
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-3181-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-3835-8
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and LawPhilosophy and Religion (R0)