CF Dictionary · Knowledge & Epistemology
Fallible Knowledge
Knowledge that may be wrong but is good enough to act on. CF's substitute for justified knowledge.
Fallible knowledge is knowledge that may turn out to be wrong but is, in the meantime, good enough to act on. CF, with CR, says fallible knowledge is the only kind of knowledge we have — and that's not a problem, because rational action doesn't require infallibilism.
How fallible knowledge works
- You have an idea — say, "the bridge ahead is intact."
- You check the available evidence (your eyes, recent reports).
- You accept the IGC as non-refuted if no decisive criticism surfaces.
- You act — cross the bridge.
- You stay open to new criticisms (the bridge may yet be faulty).
If step 5 is too weak (you ignore incoming warnings), you're being dogmatic. If step 5 is too strong (you act on every remote possibility), you're being skeptical. CF aims for the middle: open without paralysis.
Why fallible knowledge is enough
- Action only needs current non-refutation. You don't need certainty to cross a bridge.
- Refutation is a stronger test than confirmation. Crossing would reveal a faulty bridge before you reach the middle.
- Critical discussion is the safeguard. When your idea is criticized by others, you update.
"Fallible knowledge is possible, which avoids authoritarianism and skepticism. We can learn without certainty." — criticalfallibilism.com