Acta Structuralica

international journal for structuralist research

Journal | Volume | Article

236193

Knowability and the capacity to know

Michael Fara

pp. 53-73

Abstract

This paper presents a generalized form of Fitch’s paradox of knowability, with the aim of showing that the questions it raises are not peculiar to the topics of knowledge, belief, or other epistemic notions. Drawing lessons from the generalization, the paper offers a solution to Fitch’s paradox that exploits an understanding of modal talk about what could be known in terms of capacities to know. It is argued that, in rare cases, one might have the capacity to know that p even if it is metaphysically impossible for anyone to know that p, and that recognizing this fact provides the resources to solve Fitch’s paradox.

Publication details

Published in:

Salerno Joe (2010) Knowability and beyond. Synthese 173 (1).

Pages: 53-73

DOI: 10.1007/s11229-009-9676-8

Full citation:

Fara Michael (2010) „Knowability and the capacity to know“. Synthese 173 (1), 53–73.