April 02, 2004

I Wouldn't Scruple To Pick A Pocket, Either

John Hawthorne, Knowledge and Lotteries, p. 168n19:

Suppose... there were an oracle who could resolve skeptical doubts. The philosopher goes running to the oracle to find out if the world was created, complete with pseudo-memories, five minutes earlier. Is it really so strange to suppose that the philosopher, before arriving at the oracle, does not know he has been around for a while even though the dullard does know?

The sensitive invariantist should answer, "I say no, you say yes, and you will change your mind."

Posted by Matt Weiner at April 2, 2004 09:12 AM
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