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The great philosophers of the 17th and 18th centuries did…

“The great philosophers of the 17th and 18th centuries did not think that epistemological questions floated free of questions about how the mind works. Those philosophers took a stand on all sorts of questions which nowadays we would classify as questions of psychology, and their views about…” quote by Hilary Kornblith
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“The great philosophers of the 17th and 18th centuries did not think that epistemological questions floated free of questions about how the mind works. Those philosophers took a stand on all sorts of questions which nowadays we would classify as questions of psychology, and their views about psychological questions shaped their views about epistemology, as well they should have.”

Hilary Kornblith

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Philosophers historically linked mind‑science questions to knowledge theory, shaping epistemology.

In simple terms: Mind and knowledge questions are intertwined.

Key Takeaway

Consider psychological foundations when studying knowledge.

Themes

philosophy epistemology psychology history interdisciplinary

Mood

thoughtful scholarly

Type

academic explanatory

When to use this quote

  • academic research
  • teaching philosophy
  • interdisciplinary projects
  • critical analysis

Key Concepts

cognitive science theory of mind knowledge theory

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does psychology still inform epistemology?
  • What examples show this link today?
A Different Perspective

Modern frameworks may separate these fields more sharply.

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