In his “Philosophical Explanations”, Robert Nozick produced his tracking theory of knowledge. This externalist theory is used to explain how through truth tracking we can obtain knowledge. He states that what we use to learn of the truth is the method. But Nozick denies the importance of methods in his theory, to the point were does not even believe that we have to know what the method is. Instead, Nozick allows us to use any method we wish to, so long as we only use one. But not all methods are reliable, and therefore don’t allow for us to be justified. As such Nozick’s theory fails since it does not limit the methods that can be used, which makes it so that if we follow the theory we will not necessarily gain knowledge but only a true belief.
The tracking theory of knowledge has four steps. The first step is a proposition is true . Step two is that someone believes the proposition. He states that a connection between truth and belief act as justification. This connection is steps three and four. Step three is that if the proposition is false, then someone will not believe it . While step four states that if the proposition is true, then someone will believe it . An additional fifth step is added later in the text which states that we must only use one method when coming gaining knowledge as the two or more methods may contradict each other and not allow us to have a proper knowledge of the subject .
After seeing Nozick’s tracking theory, we can conclude that Nozick does not care what method is used. This is seen by the fact that Nozick makes no mention of any limitations. In fact Nozick states that we don’t even have to know which method is used . This makes sense as this is an externalist theory and externalism states that ...
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...e theory already allows for knowledge. This does not follow as we are not justified in holding step one without a proper method. Step one is needed to justify three and four, you are not justified in holding either three or four as they both require that we have a justified step one. Thus the steps do not allow for complete justification.
When adding the premise Nozick’s theory must become an internalist theory. Internalism holds that our methods are known to us . This way we are able to be sure that we are justified in our knowledge as we know what the used methods is. This way we are able to make sure that we are justified when using the theory as must know what our method is, and as such know whether it is reliable or not. Thus by adding in this internalist premise Nozick’s tracking theory will always allow for us to have justification and therefore knowledge.
Robert Nozick was a political philosopher who best reflects the political thinking of the United States, to the extent that his work is unthinkable without considering the history and the constitution of the nation. From this starting point Nozick show us that in the state of nature men are entitled on one hand to their lives and safety, and also to self-possession. Inspired by empiricist philosopher John Locke who proclaimed that natural rights exist and are claimable, Nozick claims that his concept of a minimal state is morally justifiable. “Only a minimal state, limited to enforcing contracts and protecting people against any force, theft, and fraud, is justified. Any more extensive state violates person’s rights not to be force to do certain
According to Nozick, “Individuals have rights, and there are things no person or group may do to them (without violating their rights)(Nozick, xix).” Nozick conceptualises these rights as “selfownership.” Self ownership is defined as the ownership of an individual’s physical body, talents and labor (Nozick, 16971). Nozick creates a Lockean argument by stating that if we
Nozick takes this further, however, with his “tracking theory”. Nozick adds conditions to the requirements of truth and belief. His conditions are as follows: (1) P is true (2) S believes that P (3) if it were not the case that P, S would not believe P (4) If it were the case that P, then S would believe P. Through this, Nozick means to show that knowledge is a belief that tracks the truth in a reliable fashion. Closure, the idea that we ...
Almost all epistemologists, since Edmund Gettier’s 1963 article, have agreed that he disproved the justified-true-belief conception of knowledge. He proposed two examples
To believe something is to know it so in order to know something, it is not enough to believe it- you have to learn it or have a good reason to believe it. Skepticism talks about two types of position: knowledge and justification. The skeptic argues that we do not know what we think we do it is only a thought. Skepticism of knowledge says there is no such thing as knowledge, and justification denies the belief of justified belief existing. These two are closely related which depends on the relationship between the factors of knowledge and justification: if knowledge entails justified belief, as theorists say, then justification skepticism entails knowledge skepticism. Gettier and Nozick broke down the subject and explain their point of views of it. To defend these views, skeptics lay out many requirements for knowledge or justified belief, and try to show that these requirements are not met. It still stand that’s why if I know something and I believe it that which I claim knowledge then why do I need a reason to believe it? Is black white?
While there are lots of misconception about coherentism for leading the regress into circle, by denying the assumption that justification requires the existence of an inferential chain of reasons, they claim it should be viewed as holistic in character instead. Other philosophers argued, for such a system of beliefs to function properly, it still require the beliefs to be justified circulatory, because all the individual beliefs that make up the system are related to one another in a circular fashion. There are many objections to the fundamental concept of coherentism, and they are: the input and isolation objection, the alternative systems objection, and the objection of truth connection. These objections do not need to be viewed separately. They can be divided into two common objections for coherentism. Despite the attempt, coherentism still fails to solve the regress problem and provide adequate respond to the
I shall also expound Ayer's theory of knowledge, as related in his book. I will show this theory to contain logical errors, making his modified version of the principle flawed from a second angle.
Psychologists who adopt nomothetic approach are mainly concerned with what we share with others, but differ in degree. Establishing universal laws where all populations are describe and measure on the same set of dimensions and scale, i.e., trait theory. Psychologists, who adopt idiographic approach interested in the aspect of experience over time, discover what makes each of us unique. Theoretically, they can be coherent, because the nomothetic approach also agrees with this 'uniqueness,' as it measures differences in degree.
How Nozick would react to the theory of recollection being identity is unknown, but he would very likely suggest that the recollections provided by the machine cannot be a part of who we are as they are deliberately false memories. The machine keeps one trapped within themselves, entirely isolated, and you cannot connect to others while inside of it. He finds these connections to be important to who we are, forming a view of identity that relies upon the true and outside world to some extent. The desire for a true experience as well as those moments of distress that take place outside of the machine in-between the experiences is indicative of desiring something more than the machine
First, it condemns others to ‘meager hand-to-mouth existence. Indeed, Bob no longer pursues his conceptions of a good life, even though his goals should be equally respected with dignity. Second, the first-come, first-served doctrine of appropriation that Nozick accepts is unfair. As a fair procedure of appropriation, the system which equalises chances for appropriation is better than a first-come, first-served doctrine of appropriation. However, Nozick’s proviso permits a first-come, first-served doctrine of appropriation even when chances are unequal. Due to this counterexample, Nozick’s proviso is inconsistent with the idea of treating people as persons with dignity. Therefore, Nozick’s formula is inconsistent with Kantian principle. Nozick’s formula
His conception of justice was entirely different because he did not believe arranging ones wealth amongst society, instead he believed that people created their own wealth and could do as they pleased with it as long as their properties or material goods were earned fairly which determined a just society. Justice for Nozick is more of the historical issues on how each transaction took place.
How we approach the question of knowledge is pivotal. If the definition of knowledge is a necessary truth, then we should aim for a real definition for theoretical and practical knowledge. Methodology examines the purpose for the definition and how we arrived to it. The reader is now aware of the various ways to dissect what knowledge is. This entails the possibility of knowledge being a set of truths; from which it follows that one cannot possibly give a single definition. The definition given must therefore satisfy certain desiderata , while being strong enough to demonstrate clarity without losing the reader. If we base our definition on every counter-example that disproves our original definition then it becomes ad hoc. This is the case for our current defini...
Nozick describes several different stages that come between the original Lockean state of nature and his own idea of the minimal state. The only stage that is important here however is the stage between the ultra-minimal state and the minimal state. Once people leave the original Lockean state of nature they begin the formation of protection agencies. After a while, one agency becomes dominant and, with the consent of the people that are governed, it becomes a state. Nozick states that a dominant protection agency can only be a state if it fulfills two conditions: (1) it operates a monopoly of force in its territory, not allowing any individuals to take c...
...es is the only truly “competitor” of Russell’s theory and it is reasonable for Russell to only mention this view in his argument.
Nozick agrees with the liberty principle proposed by Rawls, but he disagrees with the equality principle and the fashion in which resources are distributed. I believe the historical principle of distribution is one strength of Nozick’s ideas. The historical principle of distribution states that the justice of any distribution does not depend on how closely it resembles any form of an equality pattern but how the distribution came about (959). I also agree with the theory that people are entitled to anything they acquired voluntarily and anything that is transferred to them voluntarily (958). Nozick does not agree with redistribution of wealth because taking resources from one person to benefit others is not necessarily voluntary. The biggest weaknesses of Nozick’s idea of equality comes from the idea that taxation and federally funded programs would be unjust forcing everything to be owned privately. This creates the most issues because people are self-interested and the virtue of market may not create the balance which Nozick proposed. Public school systems and public roads being deemed illegitimate would create issues with access. Also, making taxation illegal would make it difficult to have services like a police force, fire department, court system, or penal system because they would have to be paid by the individual directly. The police and court systems could become corrupt