This paper is a logical assessment of testimonial knowledge through modal reasoning. The question of the validity of testimonial knowledge is significant to epistemic-logicians. The reality of false testimonies in our contemporary societies make the reliability of testimony as a source of knowledge questionable. Testimonial knowledge is a kind of knowledge gained when a speaker transmits a declarative statement as information to the hearer, and the hearer receives the information as knowledge on the basis of trust. This process has raised significant questions concerning the justification of testimonial knowledge: is it ideal to rely on testimony for knowledge that is valid, certain and consistent? How do we justify the validity of testimonial knowledge? This paper adopts Kripke’s S5 system of modal logic as a framework to model reasoning about testimonial knowledge. This paper employs the philosophical method of analysis. It demonstrate how modal operators, axioms and logical semantics help in assessing testimonial claims. This paper posits that testimonies can lead to knowledge either through necessity or possibility, with the verification principle serving as a crucial justification. It concludes that since true belief does not imply knowledge, any testimonial knowledge formulated on the basis of trust alone without justification cannot be valid until its validity is logically proven through the verification principle.
Keywords: Modal Reasoning, Testimonial Knowledge, Kripke’s logic, Verification Principle.
Written By:
Edet, Caleb Umoh
Department of Philosophy,
University of Uyo,
Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
gentle.ce@gmail.com,
08134472144
Emmanuel C. Umeh, PhD
Seat of Wisdom Major Seminary,
Philosophy Campus, Umuahia,
Abia State.
dr_umehemmanuel@yahoo.de,
08133714051