Moore's inference from 'here is a hand' to 'an external world exists' fails transmission because the existence of the external world is a precondition for the perceptual warrant behind the premise itself.

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Reasons For

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Reason for

1.Perceptual warrant requires a causal chain from external objects; assuming this chain while proving its existence is circular.
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2.The premise 'here is a hand' already presupposes external world conditions; it cannot independently ground what it already assumes.
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3.Transmission failure occurs when the premise's justification depends on what the conclusion aims to establish.
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Reasons Against

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Reason against

1.Moore need not prove perceptual warrant is *justified* independently—only that the premise is actually true and known.
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2.Presupposing external world conditions in perception doesn't make the inference circular if those conditions are actually met.
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3.Many valid inferences have premises whose truth requires what the conclusion states; this doesn't undermine their logical force.
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Key Terms

Moore(Moore's proof refers to his famous argument for the existence of external objects): G.E. Moore was an influential 20th-century philosopher known for defending common sense claims (like 'this is a hand') against skeptical arguments that doubt what we can know about the world.
Perceptual warrant(why Moore's claim 'here is a hand' seems true based on his perception): Good logical reason or justification for believing something based on what you see, hear, or directly experience.
Precondition(as what recognitive practices are for conceptual content): Something that must exist or happen first, before something else can exist or happen.
Premise: A premise is a statement or fact that you assume to be true as a starting point for reasoning or making an argument. Think of it as the foundation or building block you use to reach a conclusion—for example, "All dogs are animals" and "My pet is a dog" are premises that lead to the conclusion "My pet is an animal." Premises are essentially the evidence or claims you offer before drawing a final conclusion.
Transmission (fails transmission)(the logical failure being described): In logic, 'transmission' means the strength of your reasoning carries through from your starting point to your conclusion; if it 'fails,' it means your conclusion doesn't actually follow reliably from your starting point.
external world(Descartes' Sixth Meditation, where the external world is not equivalent to the material world): The domain of objects existing independently of the meditator's mind, which may include both immaterial beings (God) and material bodies
inference(Nyāya epistemology): A component of epistemology in Nyāya philosophy; a veritable inference yields knowledge about the world and must have premises that are themselves known

Connections

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Truth & Knowledge1 linked Skepticism1 linked

Many valid inferences have premises whose truth requires what the conclusion sta...Moore need not prove perceptual warrant is *justified* independently—only that t...

Details

Type: claim
Perspectives: 2 (1 for, 1 against)
Edits: 1 edit