Abduction by philosophers: Reorienting philosophical methodology

James Andow

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Abstract

A reorientation is needed in methodological debate about the role of intuitions in philosophy. Methodological debate has lost sight of the reason why it makes sense to focus on questions about intuitions when thinking about the methods or epistemology of philosophy. The problem is an approach to methodology that focuses almost exclusively on questions about some evidential role that intuitions may or may not play in philosophers’ arguments. A new approach is needed. Approaching methodological questions about the role of intuitions in philosophy with an abductive model of philosophical inquiry in mind will help ensure the debate doesn't lose sight of what motivates the debate.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)353-370
Number of pages18
JournalMetaphilosophy
Volume47
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2016

Keywords

  • intuitions
  • methodology
  • philosophical methods
  • epistemology of philosophy
  • abduction
  • inference to the best explanation

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