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Paper   IPM / Philosophy / 16345
School of Analytic Philosophy
  Title:   Davidson on Self-Knowledge: A Transcendental Explanation
  Author(s):  Ali Hossein Khani
  Status:   Published
  Journal: The Southern Journal of Philosophy
  No.:  2
  Vol.:  59
  Year:  2021
  Pages:   153-184
  Supported by:  IPM
  Abstract:
Davidson has attempted to offer his own solution to the problem of self-knowledge, but there has been no consensus between his commentators on what this solution is. Many have claimed that Davidson's account stems from his remarks on disquotational specifications of self-ascriptions of meaning and mental content, the account which I will call the "Disquotational Explanation". It has also been claimed that Davidson's account rather rests on his version of content externalism, which I will call the "Externalist Explanation". I will argue that not only are these explanations of self-knowledge implausible, but Davidson himself has already rejected them. Thus, neither can be attributed to Davidson as his suggested account of self-knowledge. I will then introduce and support what I take to be Davidson's official and independent account of self-knowledge, that is, his "Transcendental Explanation". I will defend this view against certain potential objections and finally against the objections made by William Child.

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