Department of Philosophy

ConceptLabHK
SEMINARS @ CLHK
Joey Pollock
Thursday, Nov. 18,
5pm HK time
TITLE
Do Testimonial Exchanges Preserve Content?

Abstract:
The concept of ‘knowledge through testimony’ is built upon a model of communication which maintains both that (a) successful testimonial exchanges (typically) preserve content and (b) the contents so preserved are rich enough to serve as appropriate objects of testimonial belief and assertion. In this talk, I draw on considerations from philosophy of language and pragmatics to argue that, for most testimonial exchanges, no notion of content can play both of these roles simultaneously. Thus, the conceptual foundations of much work in the epistemology testimony are defective. I conclude with some suggestions for improving our concept of testimonial knowledge and understanding its role in our epistemic ecology.

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HTTPS://BIT.LY/POLLOCK18NOV
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Department of Philosophy
Rm 10.27
Run Run Shaw Tower
Centennial Campus
5pm HK time

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