What is the Fallacy of Approximation?

Erkenntnis 89 (7):2591-2610 (2024)
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Abstract

Many philosophers appeal to the “fallacy of approximation”, or “problem of second best”. However, despite the pervasiveness of such appeals, there has been only a single attempt to provide a systematic account of what the fallacy is. We identify the shortcomings of this account and propose a better one in its place. Our account not only captures all the contexts in which approximation-based reasoning occurs but also systematically explains the several different ways in which it can be in error.

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Matthew Hammerton
Singapore Management University

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