The question of the meaning of truth is distinct from the question of
evidence for truths.
Types of knowledge:
Within descriptive knowledge:
Cf., Plato's account of knowledge.
Russell's cases of true belief that are not cases of knowledge:
justification plus (something to handle the "Gettier cases")
What is justification? Or, justification plus?
Russell:
1. Self-evidence (maximal justification)
(What are some beliefs or propositions that, for me, or you, are self-evidently true?)
Russell's example: "Desdemona loves Cassio." Could be self-evidently true to whom?
Answer:
All mental facts and facts about sense data.
(How about: "This is a hand.")
(Justification also derives from)
2. Perception
a. justifying descriptions about things which one has acquaintance with perceptually
b. justifying inferences from descriptions of sense data. (Warrant transfer.)
and
3. Coherence.
Coherence and science: see p. 140.
Consider: botany and genetics.
4. What about testimony? memory?
Background: Hegel's idealism of the Absolute, the One.
Key idea: internal as opposed to external relations.
Russell: We acquire knowledge piecemeal.
One thing can be well known, independently of another.
Other considerations:
1. Intentionality (mentally indicating)
2. Ontological layeredness (facts as complexes): one can know one thing about something without knowing everything about it
Idealistic arguments answered
1. mathematics of infinity
2. non-Euclidean geometry
Philosophy as criticism (the skeptical, or painstaking,
attitude)