Realism and Knowledge First. Interview with Timothy Williamson

The renowned British philosopher Timothy Williamson talks about his philosophical views and main lines of research. is a metaphysical realist in broad sense. Fir him there are true or false answers to questions all aspects reality. Classical logic universal theory. Knowledge-first epistemology an alternative the traditional belief-first epistemology. former takes concept knowledge as basic concept, explaining other epistemic concepts, including belief, its terms, whereas latter does opposite. Knowledge, not truth, fundamental good. Gettier problem skeptical that arise within ill posed therefore cannot be solved. Hybrid epistemological theories do satisfy principles simplicity beauty refuted by counter-examples. Epistemic contextualism problematic, relativism violates semantics phenomena being explained. Knowledge entail knowledge. Knowledge-how kind knowledge-that. distinction between priori posteriori superficial, no analytical truths. qualia unhelpful for solving problems related consciousness. so-called “hard problem” consciousness points area conceptual confusions which we know how reason properly. Speculative metaphysics quite respectable enterprise. But progress automatic; it requires right methodology.