A Cumulative Case Argument for Infallibilism

Nevin Climenhaga (Australian Catholic University)

Dr Nevin Climenhaga (ACU)

“A Cumulative Case Argument for Infallibilism.”

 I present a cumulative case for an infallibilist theory of knowledge, according to which we know all and only those propositions that are certain for us. I argue that this theory can easily explain the truth of eight plausible claims about knowledge:

(1)   There is a qualitative difference between knowledge and non-knowledge.

(2)   Knowledge is valuable in a way that non-knowledge is not.

(3)   Subjects in Gettier cases do not have knowledge.

(4)   If S knows that P, P is part of S’s evidence.

(5)   If S knows that P, ~P is epistemically impossible for S.

(6)   If S knows that P, S can rationally act as if P.

(7)   If S knows that P, S can rationally stop inquiring whether P.

(8)   If S knows each of {P1, P2, … Pn}, and competently deduces Q from these propositions, S knows that Q.

I then argue that the skeptical costs of this theory are outweighed by its explanatory power.

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