--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If one's interest is not in some global…" description: "\"If one's interest is not in some global question about the possibility of knowledge, but about some particular mechanism or inferential tendency, this ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa2/hilary-kornblith-11063_facts_if-one-s-interest-is-not-in-some-global_1986424.jpg" --- # If one's interest is not in some global question about the… ![“If one's interest is not in some global question about the possibility of knowledge, but about some particular mechanism or inferential tendency, this fact about our evolutionary origin is of no use at all in addressing questions about reliability.” quote by Hilary Kornblith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa2/hilary-kornblith-11063_facts_if-one-s-interest-is-not-in-some-global_1986424.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa2/hilary-kornblith-11063_facts_if-one-s-interest-is-not-in-some-global_1986424.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa2/hilary-kornblith-11063_facts_if-one-s-interest-is-not-in-some-global_1986424.jpg) > “If one's interest is not in some global question about the possibility of knowledge, but about some particular mechanism or inferential tendency, this fact about our evolutionary origin is of no use at all in addressing questions about reliability.” [Hilary Kornblith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. Evolutionary background doesn’t help answer specific epistemic questions about knowledge mechanisms. **In simple terms:** Evolution doesn’t solve detailed knowledge problems. Key Takeaway Focus on concrete mechanisms rather than evolutionary origins. Themes epistemology evolution knowledge methodology Mood analytical skeptical Type theoretical critical When to use this quote - academic research - philosophical debate - educational curriculum design - critical analysis of arguments Key Concepts philosophy of science cognitive psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can we assess reliability without invoking evolution? - When is evolutionary context useful in epistemology? A Different Perspective Evolutionary explanations may be irrelevant to practical reliability concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Evolutionary Origin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolutionary-origin-3150594/) [Fact Evolutionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fact-evolutionary-3420027/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Inferential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inferential-3420028/) [Inferential Tendency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inferential-tendency-3420026/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Mechanism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mechanism/) [Particular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particular/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Possibility Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility-knowledge-3420029/) [Reliability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reliability/) [Tendencies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tendencies/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) ## Related quotes > [“In any given culture and at any given moment, there is always only one 'episteme' that defines the conditions of possibility of all knowledge,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/in-any-given-culture-and-at-any-given-moment-there-is-always-only-one/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [The evolution of life, and the evolutionary origin of mankind, are scientifically established as firmly and completely as any historical event not witnessed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodosius-dobzhansky/the-evolution-of-life-and-the-evolutionary-origin-of-mankind-are/) [Theodosius Dobzhansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodosius-dobzhansky/) > [Of all the statements that have been made with respect to theories on the origin of life, the statement that the Second Law of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-gish/of-all-the-statements-that-have-been-made-with-respect-to-theories-on/) [Duane Gish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-gish/) > [“They never said “I don’t know.” They said, instead, “I’m not sure,” which did not give any information but still suggested the possibility of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/they-never-said-i-don-t-know-they-said-instead-i-m-not-sure-which-did/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [I do agree with Stich that a quick move from our evolutionary origins to the reliability of our cognitive mechanisms is not legitimate. 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I just can't seem to rely on people to do the right thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-abdullah-chowdhury/i-don-t-have-any-issue-with-trust-i-just-can-t-seem-to-rely-on-people/) [Robin Abdullah Chowdhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-abdullah-chowdhury/) > [“Strong trust is built brick by brick, through honesty, consistency, and showing up even when it’s hard to keep the promise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayoub-imilouane/strong-trust-is-built-brick-by-brick-through-honesty-consistency-and/) [Ayoub Imilouane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayoub-imilouane/) > [Wittgenstein's ruler: Unless you have confidence in the ruler's reliability, if you use a ruler to measure a table you may also be using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/wittgenstein-s-ruler-unless-you-have-confidence-in-the-ruler-s/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [Early on a difficult climb, especially a solo climb, you’re hyper-aware of the abyss pulling at your back, constantly feeling its call, its immense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/early-on-a-difficult-climb-especially-a-solo-climb-you-re-hyper-aware/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) ## More by Hilary Kornblith > [I think that when I first suggested the idea that knowledge should be viewed as a natural kind, many people thought this was just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-kornblith/i-think-that-when-i-first-suggested-the-idea-that-knowledge-should-be/) [Hilary Kornblith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-kornblith/) > [The fact that these scientific theories have a fine track record of successful prediction and explanation speaks for itself. 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