Michael Dummett and the Past

Abstract

In this paper, I examine Michael Dummett’s attempt in his book Truth and the Past to reconcile justificationism with belief in the reality of the past. I conclude that Dummett succeeds in incorporating both positions into a single consistent account, but that his arguments in favour of this account are not compelling. I argue also that Dummett, in relaxing his justificationism enough to allow for a real past, denies himself the use of some of the arguments supposed to have established that justificationism in the first place.