EXPERT ASSERTION AND KNOWLEDGE

Jennifer Lackey argues that knowing that p is not sufficient for being epistemically properly positioned to assert that p. Where that knowledge is entirely second-hand and the subject is an expert, the subject is not properly positioned to make such an assertion-since experts are held to higher epistemic standards. We reject Lackey's argument. In particular, we argue that the division of labour in science makes isolated, second-hand assertions by experts both inevitable and frequent.