Moore's Proof

Abstract

This chapter discusses G. E. Moore's legendary proof, and the epistemology that lies behind it. Written out as an argument, the proof is as follows: H-external: Here is a hand. Hands are external objects. Therefore, there is at least one external object. Moore contends that his argument satisfies three conditions for being a proof. First, the premises are all different from the conclusion. Second, the conclusion follows logically from the premises. Third, the argument's purveyor knows his premises to be true.