Is knowing how a natural kind?

Abstract

Many philosophers think propositional attitudes like beliefs, desires, and states of knowledge that can only be properly attributed to language-using creatures and that explaining behaviour in terms of them is answerable to rational norms that have no echo in nature. Many philosophers also think this view is consistent with thinking that what Ryle called knowing how can be attributed to animals and hence is a natural psychological kind. This chapter argues this combination of views is less easy to sustain than is commonly thought.