Cognitive pragmatism : the theory of knowledge in pragmatic perspective

265 Pages·2001·16.058 MB·English

by  Rescher, Nicholas

Cognitive Pragmatism
Cognitive Pragmatism
The Theory of Knowledge
in Pragmatic Perspective
N I C HOL A S R E S C H E R
University of Pittsburgh Press
Copyright © 2001, University of Pittsburgh Press
AH rights reserved
Manufactured in the United States of America
Printed on acid-free paper
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Fublication Data
Rescher, Nicholas *
Cognitive pragmatism : the theory of knowledge in pragmatic
perspective / Nicholas Rescher.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8229-4153-8 (cloth : alk. paper)
1. Knowledge, Theory of. 2. Cognition 1 Title,
BDj6i R4695 2001
121—dt2i 2001002730
C O N T E N T S
List of Figures and Displays ix
Preface xi
Introduction 1
5
one Knowledge of the Truth in Pragmatic Perspective
i* Internal Realism and Truth as (Available) Warrant 5
2. Interdependency Problems 8
3. A Different Approach: Methodological Pragmatism 13
4. Validation Issues 13
3. Being "Realistic" (in Both Senses) 16
two Epistemic Justification 21
1* Experience and Fact 21
2. Problems of Common Cause Epistemology 23
3. Modes of Justification 26
4. The Role of Presumption 27
5. Principles of Presumption 29
6. The Validation of Presumption as a General Policy 31
7. The Evolutionary Aspect of Sensory Epistemology 33
8. Rational versus Natural Selection 35
9. Against "Pure" Inteilectualism 40
10. Conclusion 44
46
three Categories: A Pragmatic Approach
1. Categorical Sameness 46
2. Types of Categories 48
3* Different Category Schemes 52
4* The Translation Argument and Its Flaws 34
5. The Alternatives of Conceptual Schemes 37
6* The Appraisal of Conceptual
or Categorical Schemes 58
7* The Question of the Inherent Superiority
of Our Own Conceptual Schemes 61
v
yi Contents
fo u ft On Learned Ignorance and the Limits of Knowledge 63
1, Knowledge about Ignorance 63
2, Scientific Progress: Difficulties
in Predicting Future Knowledge 64
3, Question Propagation 66
4, Incompleteness 68
5, Insolubilia 73
6- Relating Knowledge to Ignorance 75
7, Lessons: Learned Ignorance 80
81
The Deficits of Skepticism
f 1 v f;
1. On Rationality and Risk 81
2. Skepticism and Risk 84
3. The Deficiency of Skepticism 88
sex Cognitive Realism: A Pragmatic Perspective on
92
Existence and Our Knowledge of It
1. Existence 92
2. Being and Being Known: A Move toward Idealism 93
3. Is Man the Measure? 94
4- Realism and Incapacity 98
5. The Cognitive Inexhaustibility of Things 100
6. Cognitive Dynamics 103
7. The Conceptual Basis of Realism as a Postulate 105
8. Hidden Depths: The Impetus to Realism 109
9. The Pragmatic Foundation of Realism as a
Basis for Communication arid Discourse 113
10. The Idealistic Aspect of Metaphysical Realism 119
S even Induction as Enthymematic Reasoning: A Pragmatic
Perspective on Inference to the Best Systematization 122
1. Enthymemes 122
2. The Enthymematic Approach to Induction 123
3. Induction as Estimation 126
4. Difficulties with Inference to the Best Explanation 128
5. Further Problems 130
6. Best Systematization as a Viable Alternative 133
7. Induction as a Practical Resource 136
S. A Postscript 138
Contents vii
140
EiO ttT On Circularity and Regress in Rational Validation
1. Circular Reasoning 140
2. Iteration Processes and Infinite Regress 143
3. On the Rationale of Regressive Viciousness 147
4. Further Illustrations of Cognitive Viciousness 134
5. Thematic Homogeneity in Cognitive Regress 137
6. Harmless Circularity 139
7. Larger Pragmatic Implications 164
n 1R e Reification Fallacies and Inappropriate Totalities 166
1* Improperly Totalized Wholes and Illicit Reification 166
2. The Route to Paradox 173
3. The Root of the Problem 173
4. More on Illicit Totalities 177
5. A Russellian Digression 178
6. A Kantian Postscript 180
tem What If Things Were Different? 186
1. On Counter factual Conditionals
and Nonexistent Worlds 186
2. Some Counterfactual Conditionals 190
3+ Further Examples 193
4, A Difficulty and Its Resolution 193
5* What's Wrong with Nonexistent Worlds? 196
6* Making the Actual World Do 198
appendix Meta-Knowledge and Cognitive Limits:
Rudiments of Formalized Epistemology 201
1+ Accessible Knowledge 201
2, Actual versus Putative Knowledge 203
3+ Levels of Acceptance and Rejection 204
4* Level 1 Principles: Logicoconceptual Truths 207
5. Further Consequences 209
6. Cognitive Limitations 212
7. Summary 213
8. Observations on 216
9. Yet Further Consequences 219
10. Modal Variations 221
11. Contingent Knowledge and Level 2 Principles 223
viii Contents
12- Level 3 Principles: Plausible Truth Candidates 224
13, Knowledge of the Unknown? 225
14, Conclusion 229
Postscript: Collective Knowledge 230
Notes 233
Bibliography 245
Name Index 249
F I G U R E S A N D D I S P L A Y S
Figures
1*1 The Trade-Off between Security and Definiteness
in Estimation 19
4.1
A Diagram for Statistical Fluctuation 78
5.1
Risk Acceptance and Misfortunes:
A Phenomenological Perspective 87
Display's
3-1
Traditional Categories 47
3.2 Characterizing Elements of an Action 49
3*3
Pro toe a teg or ial Questions 50
5*1 Approaches to Risk 85
ix