The problem of epistemic bootstrapping requires explaining, in a principled manner, why a subject who engages in bootstrapping fails to know the conclusion of her reasoning. Existing proposed solutions to the problem provide unsatisfactory explanations regarding the bootstrapper's ignorance. This paper puts forward a novel solution and argues that it satisfactorily explains the ignorance of the bootstrapper, while avoiding the difficulties that other proposals face. Section 1 explains what epistemic bootstrapping is, defines the problem it poses for a theory of knowledge, and outlines the basic desiderata demanded of any acceptable solution to the problem. Section 2 explicates the proposal I defend throughout the rest of the paper. Here, I contend that the wrong−making feature of bootstrapping which ultimately explains the bootstrapper's ignorance is a failure to use an independent source in checking the accuracy of the reports of a given source. I call this explanation the “Independence proposal.” Section 2 also argues that the phenomenon of bootstrapping is broader than is usually assumed; there are cases of bootstrapping that do not fit the superficial structure of the prototypical cases discussed in the literature, and any good proposal should apply to these as well. Section 3 argues that the independence proposal does better than other current proposals in fulfilling the desiderata identified in Section 1. Section 4 sums up the central contributions of the paper.

中文翻译：

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认知自举作为未能使用独立来源

认知自举问题需要以原则性的方式解释为什么参与自举的主体无法知道她推理的结论。针对该问题的现有建议解决方案对引导程序的无知提供了不能令人满意的解释。本文提出了一种新颖的解决方案，并认为它令人满意地解释了引导程序的无知，同时避免了其他提案面临的困难。第 1 节解释了什么是认知引导，定义了它对知识理论提出的问题，并概述了对该问题的任何可接受的解决方案所要求的基本需求。第 2 节阐述了我在本文其余部分捍卫的提议。在这里，我认为引导程序的错误特征最终解释了引导程序' 无知是指未能使用独立来源来检查给定来源报告的准确性。我将这种解释称为“独立提案”。第 2 节还论证了自举现象比通常假设的更广泛；有些引导案例不符合文献中讨论的原型案例的表面结构，任何好的建议也应该适用于这些案例。第 3 节认为，独立提案在满足第 1 节中确定的迫切需要方面比其他当前提案做得更好。第 4 节总结了本文的核心贡献。” 第 2 节还论证了自举现象比通常假设的更广泛；有些引导案例不符合文献中讨论的原型案例的表面结构，任何好的建议也应该适用于这些案例。第 3 节认为，独立提案在满足第 1 节中确定的迫切需要方面比其他当前提案做得更好。第 4 节总结了本文的核心贡献。” 第 2 节还论证了自举现象比通常假设的更广泛；有些引导案例不符合文献中讨论的原型案例的表面结构，任何好的建议也应该适用于这些案例。第 3 节认为，独立提案在满足第 1 节中确定的迫切需要方面比其他当前提案做得更好。第 4 节总结了本文的核心贡献。