5/15/02 Wednesday

Test starts next monday

COHERSION-a belief is justified if it coheres with (is consistent with) the other beliefs a person has.

Knowledge is a system of mutually supporting beliefs. The justification of any single belief is a function of its role in the system as a whole.

ex) Strange noise in the middle of the night example.
1) he thinks it's a burglar
2) is this justified?
3) remembers his cat plays at night
4) a burglar makes a different noise

advantages
1) more instep with out experiences
-how we actually justify beliefs in
practice
2) solves regress problems
3) makes it easier to justify religious
beliefs
4) easier to justify beliefs in general
-solution to skepticism
5) in accordance with the way science works
e.g. rejection of "cold fusion"

disadvantages
1) can cause close minded ness, dogmatic
attitude
2) tendency to reject contrary evidence, and
accept confirming evidence
3) there's no criteria for connecting our
beliefs with the external world