Knowledge, Stakes, and Mistakes

Knowledge, stakes, and mistakes. Noûs, 49(2), 201-234.

In §1 we review the epistemological background in which Folk stakes sensitivity has arisen, and the empirical background in terms of the first wave studies casting doubt on it. This is to set the stage for a critical discussion of the second wave studies said to offer vindication. In §2 we discuss Pinillos’s studies. We present new results showing that Pinillos has found a stakes effect, but not an effect on knowledge ascription (we argue that his effect is on the modal element in his complex probes). In §3 we turn to Sripada & Stanley’s studies. We present new results showing that Sripada & Stanley have found an effect on knowledge ascription, but not a direct stakes effect (we argue that their effect is a salience effect). In §4 we conclude overall that the balance of evidence to date best fits Folk stakes insensitivity.