Social Externalism and the Knowledge Argument

Mind 122 (486):fzt072 (2013)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

According to social externalism, it is possible to possess a concept not solely in virtue of one’s intrinsic properties but also in virtue of relations to one’s linguistic community. Derek Ball (2009) argues, in effect, that (i) social externalism extends to our concepts of colour experience and (ii) this fact undermines both the knowledge argument against physicalism and the most popular physicalist response to it, known as the phenomenal concept strategy. I argue that Ball is mistaken about (ii) even granting (i). The knowledge argument and the phenomenal concept strategy might have to be modified to make them consistent with social externalism, but not in fundamental or detrimental ways

Author's Profile

Torin Alter
University of Alabama

Analytics

Added to PP
2011-07-13

Downloads
1,509 (#6,189)

6 months
126 (#23,494)

Historical graph of downloads since first upload
This graph includes both downloads from PhilArchive and clicks on external links on PhilPapers.
How can I increase my downloads?