Notes For May 24, 2002

Do you have to know why you know in order to know?

Internalism yes
Externalism no

Subjective justification (Internalism) cannot be blamed for your belief.
· -Your belief is reasonable given your circumstances.
· -Relative to individuals

Objective justification (Externalism) Right relationship between belief and objective truth.
· -Belief caused in the right way

Pojman Justification is a combination of these two forms
· ?Externalism w/ a internalist constraint

Chapter 16
Do we have control over our beliefs?

Direct Control ? decide what to believe through the act of will.

Indirect Control- Seems difficult if not impossible for *sensory beliefs, *Logic + Math , and *Basic historical belief

Indirect (cont)-
1. Decide through impartial weighing of evidence.
2. Conditioning yourself to favor what you want to believe. i.e. Through *Hypnosis, *Affirmation, * Seeking out social situations which reinforce your belief.

1. Doesn?t seem like true control
2. Doesn?t seem likely to yield true belief


For next time:
? To what extent do culture, upbringing, & personal experience determine our belief??