成真项理论足以解决盖梯尔问题吗——一种从时间表征的角度进行的研究

Can Truth-maker Theory Adequately Solve the Gettier Problem——An Investigation from the Perspective of Temporal Representation

希思科特等人的成真项理论在解决典型的盖梯尔问题方面具有理论优势,但也面临一定的理论困难。通过对比一系列不同类型的盖梯尔案例,着重考察这些案例在因果机制方面的差异,特别是通过对比温度计模型和钟表模型这两类典型的盖梯尔案例构造模型,揭示出两种模型在指示读数方面存在的本质上不同的因果机制,并在此基础上指明成真项理论适用的范围,可知成真项理论在应对诸如停走的钟表等典型的盖梯尔案例时存在的理论缺陷与理论困境。

In this paper, the truth- maker solution to the Gettier problem, which is advocated by Adrian Heathcote, will be closely examined. This investigation of the truth maker theory will reveal the theoretical advantages as well as the theoretical deficiency of the theory. Through the comparison of a se-ries of the Gettier cases, it is suggested that the causal models implied in the various types of the Gettier cases are significantly different, which is especially illustrated by the Gettier cases concerning the thermometer and the clock. It is argued that, due to the different innate causal mechanism of the thermometer, the clock as well as their correspondent different representative mechanism, the truthmaker theory may successfully solve one of them on the one hand, but on the other hand fail to adequately solve the other one, which in turn indicates the theoretical impasses and challenges that are posed upon the truth-maker theory.