Elucidating the nature and function of Ernest Sosa's reflective knowledge

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Saeideh Fayazi 1
Zahra Khazaei 2
Nafise Sate 3
1 The University of Qom-Faculty of Islamic Theology- Doctoral student in Comparative Philosophy
2 Department of Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, University of Qom, Qom, Iran
3 Associate Professor at ”the Islamic Philosophy And Theology Department” of Qom University.
10.22034/zehn.2025.2050129.2081
Abstract
The present article explains the nature and application of Ernest Sosa’s Reflective knowledge. Reflective knowledge is a second-order knowledge in which the virtues of agency play an essential role in its construction, and it turns this knowledge into a consciously and intentional knowledge. By replacing competence instead of justification, Sosa defines knowledge as, competent belief. Reflective competence is a set of internalism and externalism tools that bring the subject to a definite truth. The tools of the subject include cognitive skills, external conditions and situations that are effective in knowledge and a series of characteristics, i.e. adroitness , aptness, reliability, meta-aptness, and epistemic perspective, which by injecting them into the epistemic performance, ultimately create reflective knowledge. This knowledge is used in various sciences to create cognitive standards and criteria.In this article, after explaining the nature and characteristics of reflective knowledge and pointing out its applications, we will address some of the objections to Sosa's view. Relying heavily on reliability, eliminating character virtues, and Sosa's vague explanation of reflective knowledge suggests to the reader that this knowledge is still far from becoming methodical. However, Sosa's explanation of reflective knowledge deserves a new branch in epistemology.
Keywords
agential virtues. reflective competence.adroitness
aptness
reliability
meta-aptness
epistemic perspective

Subjects

  1.  

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Volume 26, Issue 101
Winter 2025
Pages 105-134