<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>A lively exchange in recent epistemology considers the problem of epistemic disagreement between peers: disagreement between those who share evidence and have equal cognitive abilities. Two main views have emerged about how to proceed in such circumstances: be steadfast in maintaining one’s own view or conciliate, and suspend or reduce one’s confidence in one’s belief. Talmudic debates do seem to promote steadfastness, as the disputants are not called on to conciliate purely because they confront a disagreeing peer. But why? Third party judgments are even more problematic, for what epistemic warrant is there for choosing between a disagreement of superiors? A common explanation for Talmudic steadfastness is the notion <italic>’elu w’elu divrey ’Elohim <underline>k</underline>ayim</italic> – both sides of Talmudic (or, more generally, <italic>halakhic</italic>) disputes have ‘heavenly’ legitimacy. But a closer look at this oft-quoted dictum and its various interpretations does not, in fact, reveal such support for steadfastness. Other explanations for Talmudic steadfastness are, therefore, required.</p></abstract>

A lively exchange in recent epistemology considers the problem of epistemic disagreement between peers: disagreement between those who share evidence and have equal cognitive abilities. Two main views have emerged about how to proceed in such circumstances: be steadfast in maintaining one’s own view or conciliate, and suspend or reduce one’s confidence in one’s belief. Talmudic debates do seem to promote steadfastness, as the disputants are not called on to conciliate purely because they confront a disagreeing peer. But why? Third party judgments are even more problematic, for what epistemic warrant is there for choosing between a disagreement of superiors? A common explanation for Talmudic steadfastness is the notion ’elu w’elu divrey ’Elohim kayim – both sides of Talmudic (or, more generally, halakhic) disputes have ‘heavenly’ legitimacy. But a closer look at this oft-quoted dictum and its various interpretations does not, in fact, reveal such support for steadfastness. Other explanations for Talmudic steadfastness are, therefore, required.

Epistemic Disagreement and <italic>’Elu We’Elu</italic>

Department of Communication Arts and Sciences

Studia Humana

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":{"italic":"\u2019Elu We\u2019Elu","content":"Epistemic Disagreement and"}}

A lively exchange in recent epistemology considers the problem of epistemic disagreement between peers: disagreement between those who share evidence and have...

Epistemic Disagreement and ’Elu We’Elu

Published Online: Aug 22, 2017

Page range: 7 - 16

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sh-2017-0008

Keywords
disagreement, epistemic warrant, Talmudic dispute, Talmudic dissent

© 2017 Joshua Halberstam, published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Epistemic Disagreement and ’Elu We’Elu

Published Online: Aug 22, 2017

Page range: 7 - 16

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sh-2017-0008

Keywordsdisagreement, epistemic warrant, Talmudic dispute, Talmudic dissent

© 2017 Joshua Halberstam, published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
disagreement, epistemic warrant, Talmudic dispute, Talmudic dissent