Theories of Knowledge, PHIL 202
Thursday, May 23rd

Internalism
-foundationalism
-coherentism
~Justification is a matter of "reflective access" to good, convincing reasons
-"Reflective access" - you know what the reasons are if you think about it

Externalism
~Reliablism-reflective access to justifying reasons NOT necessary for justification
Justification comes from one's belief being formed by a reliable (truth-conducive)process
~Example: Idiot savant - reliable, accurate process, as in knowing the day of the week of any given date, but being unable to describe the process in reaching the answer (not reflective access)
~Example 2: supposed real reliable psychic (someone w/"good instincts")
Some externalists add internalist constraint-you must know the process is reliable

Normative concept: internalism, because it's normative, seems to require some sort of control over beliefs

~Direct-many logical, mathematical, sensory, even historical beliefs seem out of our direct control
~Indirect-careful investigation of evidence
-often simply an attempt to rationalize pre-existing beliefs
-people gravitate towards experiences which reinforce their beliefs (books,friends)