Phenomenally Skilful Intuitions
Erkenntnis July 2, 2026 DOI: 10.1007/s10670-026-01128-6 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Ontology Action physics Metaphysics Free will Thought experiment Epistemology |
| Key points | Argues that an enactivist view of intuition, emphasizing mental actions, provides a clear account of skilful intuition that addresses the problem of intuitive presence. |
Abstract
Abstract What makes some intuitions more skilful than others? To answer this question, I first argue that prominent phenomenalist views of intuition—which define intuitions as mental states with a unique phenomenology—cannot capture the distinction between skilful and unskilful intuitions. I then propose a desideratum for an account of skilful intuition: they must address the problem of intuitive presence . Lastly, I draw on extensive empirical work on metacognition and action control to argue that an enactivist view of intuition—which emphasises the role of mental actions in producing intuitions—both satisfies the proposed desideratum and offers a clear and plausible account of the nature of skilful intuition.