A Priori Knowledge

by Valaris, Markos

The goal of my dissertation is to give an account of our capacity for a priori knowledge in terms of fundamental features of conceptual thought. In a nutshell, the claim is that a priori knowledge is possible because thinkers are able to recognize the norms that their thinking is subject to. But, as I argue, the contents of our propositional attitudes are themselves individuated in terms of the norms that fix their place in our thinking. Since contents — Fregean thoughts — are what may be the case, it follows that knowledge of the norms of thinking can be substantive knowledge of the possible shapes reality can take.