Associated reading:    Paul Boghossian, "What the Externalist Can Know A Priori" Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society 97 (1997), 161-75. Also appears in C.Wright, M. Smith and C. Macdonald, eds., (1998) Knowing Our Own Minds:Essays in Self-Knowledge (electronic version will be provided)    My paper, "What's Wrong with McKinsey-style Reasoning?" <http://www.jimpryor.net/research/papers/McKinsey.pdf> (retitle)

old_uid6913
titleAssociated reading:    Paul Boghossian, "What the Externalist Can Know A Priori" Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society 97 (1997), 161-75. Also appears in C.Wright, M. Smith and C. Macdonald, eds., (1998) Knowing Our Own Minds:Essays in Self-Knowledge (electronic version will be provided)    My paper, "What's Wrong with McKinsey-style Reasoning?" <http://www.jimpryor.net/research/papers/McKinsey.pdf> (retitle)
start_date2009/05/12
schedule14h-16h
onlineno
summaryMcKinsey's argument challenges the compatibility of externalism about content and our introspective awareness of content. The challenge goes like this: I presume to know the contents of my thoughts by introspection alone; but philosophical reflection says that the contents of those thoughts are externalist, and so I couldn't have those thoughts unless my environment were a certain way. Hence, it looks like I can conclude, on the basis of introspection and philosophical reflection alone, that my environment is a certain way---which seems incredible. Something has to give. We'll explore several ways of defusing this challenge. The solution I prefer will draw on the material introduced in Seminar 1.
responsiblesLesguillons