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The Threshold Problem, the Cluster Account, and the Significance of Knowledge

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 March 2020

Daniel Immerman Open the ORCID record for Daniel Immerman [Opens in a new window]
Daniel Immerman*
Affiliation:
Cycorp, Austin, Texas, USA
*
Email: immermand@gmail.com
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Abstract

The threshold problem is the task of adequately answering the question: “Where does the threshold lie between knowledge and lack thereof?” I start this paper by articulating two conditions for solving it. The first is that the threshold be neither too high nor too low; the second is that the threshold accommodate the significance of knowledge. In addition to explaining these conditions, I also argue that it is plausible that they can be met. Next, I argue that many popular accounts of knowledge cannot meet them. In particular, I lay out a number of problems that standard accounts of knowledge face in trying to meet these conditions. Finally, near the end of this paper, I argue that there is one sort of account that seems to evade these problems. This sort of account, which is called a cluster account of knowledge, says that knowledge is to be accounted for in terms of truth, belief and a cluster of epistemic properties and also that knowledge doesn't require having all members of the cluster, but merely some subset.

Keywords

threshold problemsignificance of knowledgecluster account of knowledge
Type
Article
Information
Episteme , Volume 18 , Issue 4 , December 2021 , pp. 693 - 710
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2020

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