The Reliability of Sense Perception

by Alston, William P.

• ISBN13: 9780801481017
• ISBN10: 0801481015
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1996-01-01
• Publisher: Cornell Univ Pr

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Introduction	1	(11)
The Problem	1	(1)
Significance of the Problem	2	(2)
Ways of Belief Formation	4	(3)
Doxastic Practices	7	(1)
Reliability	8	(4)
Track Record and Other Simple Empirical Arguments for Reliability	12	(14)
A Track Record Argument for the Reliability of Sense Perceptual Practice (SP)	12	(3)
Epistemic Circularity	15	(2)
A Piecemeal Approach	17	(2)
Back to SP as a Whole	19	(3)
Pragmatic Arguments: Validation by Fruits	22	(3)
The Road Ahead	25	(1)
A Priori Arguments	26	(34)
Theological Arguments	26	(4)
Verificationism	30	(2)
Criteria of Physical Object Concepts	32	(13)
Paradigm Case Arguments	45	(8)
The Private Language Argument	53	(4)
Transcendental Arguments	57	(3)
Empirical Arguments for the Reliability of SP	60	(60)
The Explanation of Sensory Experience	60	(10)
The Explanation of Patterns in Sense Experience	70	(8)
Attempts to Support the Standard Explanation	78	(19)
Explanations of Our Success in Predicting Our Experience	97	(4)
Problems with the Argument	101	(14)
How Widespread Is the Circularity Problem?	115	(5)
Where Do We Go from Here?	120	(21)
The Problem	120	(4)
A Practical Argument for the Rationality of SP	124	(6)
Practical Rationality and Reliability	130	(4)
Overriders of Prima Facie Rationality	134	(4)
Significant Self-Support	138	(3)
Bibliography	141	(4)
Index	145