A critical examination of the ability hypothesis

This research paper aims to make a modest contribution to the development of philosophical scholarship by inquiring into the soundness of a strong argument defending physicalism from one of its strong challenges: the Ability Hypothesis (AH), which was advanced by David Lewis and vigorously defended...

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Main Author: Oquias, Ikko M.
Format: text
Language:English
Published: Animo Repository 2020
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Online Access:https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/5951
https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=12970&context=etd_masteral
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Institution: De La Salle University
Language: English
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spelling oai:animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph:etd_masteral-129702022-04-26T03:55:10Z A critical examination of the ability hypothesis Oquias, Ikko M. This research paper aims to make a modest contribution to the development of philosophical scholarship by inquiring into the soundness of a strong argument defending physicalism from one of its strong challenges: the Ability Hypothesis (AH), which was advanced by David Lewis and vigorously defended by Laurence Nemirow; and the said challenge to physicalism refers to the Knowledge Argument (KA), which was advanced by Frank Jackson. It must be noted that AH can be viewed from two different perspectives, and thus can be interpreted as either: (1) a defense of physicalism or (2) a critique of KA. The difference in these perspectives is important as this research paper uses (2), and thus its arguments only work within the context that AH is a critique of, or an objection to, KA. To do this, AH is examined by qualifying the differences between the conceptions of phenomenal knowledge or qualia as assumed in both KA and AH. For AH to succeed as an objection to KA, it must, first and foremost, faithfully represent the concepts and views put forth by KA. This research paper argues that AH fails in this area as it commits the straw man fallacy by misinterpreting the supposed meaning of “phenomenal knowledge” as put forth by the KA, which allows for possible formulations of the AH showing the fallacy of equivocation, because KA’s original concept of “phenomenal knowledge” was not properly disproved. It must also be noted that this paper is not a defense of KA, for while AH may not be successful in discrediting KA in the context that this paper views it, there may be other insurmountable difficulties that KA faces. 2020-09-01T07:00:00Z text application/pdf https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/5951 https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=12970&context=etd_masteral Master's Theses English Animo Repository Ability Hypothesis Philosophy
institution De La Salle University
building De La Salle University Library
continent Asia
country Philippines
Philippines
content_provider De La Salle University Library
collection DLSU Institutional Repository
language English
topic Ability
Hypothesis
Philosophy
spellingShingle Ability
Hypothesis
Philosophy
Oquias, Ikko M.
A critical examination of the ability hypothesis
description This research paper aims to make a modest contribution to the development of philosophical scholarship by inquiring into the soundness of a strong argument defending physicalism from one of its strong challenges: the Ability Hypothesis (AH), which was advanced by David Lewis and vigorously defended by Laurence Nemirow; and the said challenge to physicalism refers to the Knowledge Argument (KA), which was advanced by Frank Jackson. It must be noted that AH can be viewed from two different perspectives, and thus can be interpreted as either: (1) a defense of physicalism or (2) a critique of KA. The difference in these perspectives is important as this research paper uses (2), and thus its arguments only work within the context that AH is a critique of, or an objection to, KA. To do this, AH is examined by qualifying the differences between the conceptions of phenomenal knowledge or qualia as assumed in both KA and AH. For AH to succeed as an objection to KA, it must, first and foremost, faithfully represent the concepts and views put forth by KA. This research paper argues that AH fails in this area as it commits the straw man fallacy by misinterpreting the supposed meaning of “phenomenal knowledge” as put forth by the KA, which allows for possible formulations of the AH showing the fallacy of equivocation, because KA’s original concept of “phenomenal knowledge” was not properly disproved. It must also be noted that this paper is not a defense of KA, for while AH may not be successful in discrediting KA in the context that this paper views it, there may be other insurmountable difficulties that KA faces.
format text
author Oquias, Ikko M.
author_facet Oquias, Ikko M.
author_sort Oquias, Ikko M.
title A critical examination of the ability hypothesis
title_short A critical examination of the ability hypothesis
title_full A critical examination of the ability hypothesis
title_fullStr A critical examination of the ability hypothesis
title_full_unstemmed A critical examination of the ability hypothesis
title_sort critical examination of the ability hypothesis
publisher Animo Repository
publishDate 2020
url https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/5951
https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=12970&context=etd_masteral
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