Norms and Significance in Ignorance: Reply to Duncan Pritchard

Authors: Rik Peels
Cited by: 0

Abstract

This is a reply to Duncan Pritchard's response to my critique of his normative account of ignorance. Pritchard suggests that I take a Normative Condition on board in my own account of ignorance. Pritchard's suggestion has drastic revisionary and deflationary implications for how we use words like “ignorance” and “ignorant”. I explain why I believe this is unnecessary: one can perfectly well be ignorant without displaying any kind of intellectual fault. Pritchard does convincingly show, though, that the Signifcance Condition of my account of ignorance needs revision. I explain that we can revise it by allowing for both subjective and objective significance.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Philosophical Ethics and Theory Epistemology Ethics and Metaphysics Philosophy and Theoretical Science

Publication details

Journal / source
VU Research Portal
Publication date
13 February 2026
Language
EN