Knowledge as True Belief

Abstract

“Knowledge” is an honorific intended to distinguish sources of information that are approved from those that are not and also to distinguish full beliefs that are prized from full beliefs that are despised. These are two distinct functions. The function of sources of information is quite different from the function of states of full belief. We should not expect that the characterization of knowledge in the two cases should be the same or that conflict between the two can be settled by appeal to “our ordinary” concept of knowledge. (There is no such thing.)