在知识的传递中看证言的限度——证言作为一种知识源泉的有限性

The Limits of Testimony in Transmission of Knowledge——The Limitation of Testimony as a Source of Knowledge

在当代西方哲学知识论中,证言(testimony)被认为是知识的一个重要源泉,对此我并不怀疑。但我试图通过分析知识传递的问题以揭示证言的限度。首先,在对"传递vs产生论题"分析后,认为听者能从不可靠的说者证言中产生知识,由此指出证言的一个限度——不稳定性。其次,通过对"递减vs递增论题"的分析,认为递减与递增两种理论在根本上并不矛盾,是证言的两个方面,由此指出证言的另外两个限度——递减性和对听者知识形成的不充分性。

In contemporary Western Epistemology, testimony is regarded as an important source of knowledge. I have no doubt about this. However, my purpose is to reveal the limits of testimony through the analysis of the thesis of knowledge transmission. Firstly, I hold that the listener can acquire knowledge from unreliable speaker＇ s testimony in analysis of the topic of ＂transmission vs. generating＂, and there will be a limit of testimony instabili- ty. Secondly, by analyzing the topic of ＂decrease vs. increase＂, I point out that there is no contradiction between the two theories, because they are the two sides of testimony. Then another two limits of testimony are revealed, i. e. , the decreasing property and insufficiency of listener＇ s testimonial knowledge.