Abstract:In this paper, I shall attempt to explain the difference between a foundation and a coherence theory of epistemic justification. I shall, in so doing, argue that weak foundation theories fail to disti...In this paper, I shall attempt to explain the difference between a foundation and a coherence theory of epistemic justification. I shall, in so doing, argue that weak foundation theories fail to distinguish themselves from coherence theories in a fruitful manner. A coherence theory may be regarded as a metatheory of justification enabling us to derive principles of justification that might conform to the conditions offered for a foundation theory. I conclude by sketching a coherence theory of justification. A virtue of the theory is that, in addition to enabling us to decide what it is reasonable to accept as knowledge, it also enables us to explain why it is reasonable. Finally, the theory enables us to explain how it could be reasonable to reject as knowledge what we formerly accepted. How then might one define a foundation theory? Let us begin with the very weakest theory worthy of the name. I shall construe such theories as theories of the justification that a person has which makes it reasonable for him to accept something as knowledge. What he thus accepts will be a statement or proposition he believes to be true. A foundation theory is a theory of justified belief. Consider the following definition: A theory T of justified belief is a foundation theory if and only if T tells us that some beliefs are self-justified and (ii) it tells us that every justified belief is justified by some self-justified beliefs. This account of a foundation theory has defects. Condition (ii) requires that every belief that is not self-justified be justified by self-justified beliefs, and, therefore, disallows a pattern of justification which starts self-justified beliefs used toRead More
Publication Year: 1977
Publication Date: 1977-03-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 9
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