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    A false belief like 'Theaetetus flies' refers to real con... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→False belief is impossible because one cannot believe what is not the case

    A false belief like 'Theaetetus flies' refers to real constituents (Theaetetus, flying) combined in a false arrangement, not to nothing.

    ?Rate how convincing each reason is below to see the overall strength.
    1 reason for
    1 reason against

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.False beliefs have determinate content: we can specify exactly what makes 'Theaetetus flies' false, which requires identifying its specific constituents.
      ?

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    • 2.Thoughts about non-existent or impossible combinations (like flying humans) are still about real things arranged wrongly, not about nothing.
      ?

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    • 3.Explanation of error requires real elements: if false beliefs involved no constituents, we couldn't explain why one falsehood differs from another.
      ?

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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.The arrangement relation itself needs explanation: what makes a 'false arrangement' of real constituents different from mere separate existence of those things?
      ?

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    • 2.This view conflates reference with aboutness: even if Theaetetus and flying are constituents of the belief, that doesn't explain how they're combined falsely.
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    • 3.Non-existent arrangements seem to be abstract objects too—so the view doesn't avoid positing non-real entities, only relocates them.
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    Truth & Knowledge1 linkedSkepticism1 linked

    Related

    Explanation of error requires real elements: if false beliefs involved no consti...False belief is impossible because one cannot believe what is not the caseFalse beliefs have determinate content: we can specify exactly what makes 'Theae...Non-existent arrangements seem to be abstract objects too—so the view doesn't av...
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    The arrangement relation itself needs explanation: what makes a 'false arrangeme...This view conflates reference with aboutness: even if Theaetetus and flying are ...Thoughts about non-existent or impossible combinations (like flying humans) are ...

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    2 (1 for, 1 against)
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