Knowing What Things Are: A Response to My Critics
Abstract In this response to my commentators, I address several challenges to the erotetic account of knowing what things are, developed in Knowing What Things Are: An Inquiry-Based Approach. I clarify how my view handles complex webs of inquiry, contextual variation in answers, and normative dimens...
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| Language: | English |
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Universidade Estadual de Campinas
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Manuscrito |
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| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-60452025000200406&lng=en&tlng=en |
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| author | ANDRÉ J. ABATH |
| author_facet | ANDRÉ J. ABATH |
| author_sort | ANDRÉ J. ABATH |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract In this response to my commentators, I address several challenges to the erotetic account of knowing what things are, developed in Knowing What Things Are: An Inquiry-Based Approach. I clarify how my view handles complex webs of inquiry, contextual variation in answers, and normative dimensions of questions involving social kinds. Drawing on cases such as “What is a gene?” and “What is marriage?”, I explore how different epistemic and practical goals shape what counts as a good answer to “What is x?” questions. I also respond to worries about over- and under-generation of knowledge attributions, and the possibility of non-propositional knowledge. Finally, I consider the implications of my contextualism for truth, content, and fictional discourse, and suggest refinements to the original framework to better accommodate issues raised by my critics. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c5eb03e927b4403fb0c04f942fb5afb2 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2317-630X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Universidade Estadual de Campinas |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Manuscrito |
| spelling | doaj-art-c5eb03e927b4403fb0c04f942fb5afb22025-08-20T02:08:40ZengUniversidade Estadual de CampinasManuscrito2317-630X2025-06-0148210.1590/0100-6045.2025.v48n2.ajKnowing What Things Are: A Response to My CriticsANDRÉ J. ABATHhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4747-5938Abstract In this response to my commentators, I address several challenges to the erotetic account of knowing what things are, developed in Knowing What Things Are: An Inquiry-Based Approach. I clarify how my view handles complex webs of inquiry, contextual variation in answers, and normative dimensions of questions involving social kinds. Drawing on cases such as “What is a gene?” and “What is marriage?”, I explore how different epistemic and practical goals shape what counts as a good answer to “What is x?” questions. I also respond to worries about over- and under-generation of knowledge attributions, and the possibility of non-propositional knowledge. Finally, I consider the implications of my contextualism for truth, content, and fictional discourse, and suggest refinements to the original framework to better accommodate issues raised by my critics.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-60452025000200406&lng=en&tlng=enknowledge-WhErotetic AccountContextualismSocial KindsNormative InquiryPropositional Knowledge |
| spellingShingle | ANDRÉ J. ABATH Knowing What Things Are: A Response to My Critics Manuscrito knowledge-Wh Erotetic Account Contextualism Social Kinds Normative Inquiry Propositional Knowledge |
| title | Knowing What Things Are: A Response to My Critics |
| title_full | Knowing What Things Are: A Response to My Critics |
| title_fullStr | Knowing What Things Are: A Response to My Critics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowing What Things Are: A Response to My Critics |
| title_short | Knowing What Things Are: A Response to My Critics |
| title_sort | knowing what things are a response to my critics |
| topic | knowledge-Wh Erotetic Account Contextualism Social Kinds Normative Inquiry Propositional Knowledge |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-60452025000200406&lng=en&tlng=en |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT andrejabath knowingwhatthingsarearesponsetomycritics |