Theories of Justification
What Is Justification?
Definition
Justification
Justification refers to the reasons or evidence that support a belief, making it rational or reasonable to hold.
- Necessary Condition: A belief must be justified to count as knowledge.
- Sufficient Condition: Justification, along with truth and belief, is often seen as sufficient for knowledge—though this is debated.
- Justification is not the same as truth.
- A belief can be justified but still false if the evidence is misleading.
Internal vs. External Justification
- Internal Justification
- Relies on factors accessible to the believer's conscious awareness.
- Examples: Perceptions, memories, logical reasoning.
- External Justification
- Depends on factors outside the believer's awareness.
- Examples: Reliability of a cognitive process, causal connections to the world.
When evaluating a belief, ask yourself: "What reasons or evidence support this belief? Are they accessible to my awareness, or do they rely on external factors?"
The Regress Problem
The regress problem arises when we ask for justification for a belief, then justification for that justification, and so on.
- Infinite Regress: Each justification requires another, leading to an endless chain.
- Circular Justification: Justifications loop back on themselves, which is often seen as problematic.
- Foundational Justification: Some beliefs are self-justified or require no further support.
- Imagine you believe the sky is blue because you see it.
- If asked why you trust your vision, you might say it's reliable.
- But why is it reliable? This chain can continue indefinitely, illustrating the regress problem.
Foundationalism: Justification Begins with Basic Beliefs
Definition
Foundationalism
Foundationalism is a theory of justification that addresses the regress problem by positing that some beliefs are self-justified or require no further support.
- Basic Beliefs: These are self-evident, indubitable, or justified by direct experience.
- Non-Basic Beliefs: These are justified by basic beliefs or by other non-basic beliefs that ultimately trace back to basic ones.
- Descartes' famous statement, "Cogito, ergo sum" ("I think, therefore I am"), is often cited as a basic belief.
- It is self-evident and does not require further justification.
Strengths of Foundationalism
- Solves the Regress Problem: By grounding justification in basic beliefs, foundationalism avoids infinite regress.
- Provides a Clear Structure: Justification is hierarchical, with basic beliefs supporting non-basic ones.
Criticisms of Foundationalism
- Identifying Basic Beliefs: Critics argue that it's difficult to determine which beliefs are truly basic.
- Isolation of Basic Beliefs: Some philosophers question whether basic beliefs can provide enough support for complex knowledge.
