In the fields of epistemology and philosophy of mind it is said the first person (the subject, the self) has privileged access to his own thoughts. This implies the subject has access to (and knows) his own thoughts (has self-knowledge) in such a way that the third person (others) do not. Privileged access can be characterized in two ways:
- Positive characterization: privileged access comes through introspection.
- Negative characterization: knowledge derived from privileged access is not based upon evidences.
Read more about Privileged Access: What Philosophers Say, Further Reading
Famous quotes containing the words privileged and/or access:
“The government of the United States is a device for maintaining in perpetuity the rights of the people, with the ultimate extinction of all privileged classes.”
—Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933)
“Oh, the holiness of always being the injured party. The historically oppressed can find not only sanctity but safety in the state of victimization. When access to a better life has been denied often enough, and successfully enough, one can use the rejection as an excuse to cease all efforts. After all, one reckons, “they” don’t want me, “they” accept their own mediocrity and refuse my best, “they” don’t deserve me.”
—Maya Angelou (b. 1928)