Seemings and the Foundations of Justification: A Defense of Phenomenal Conservatism

by Blake McAllister

Overview

All justified beliefs ultimately rest on attitudes that are immediately justified. This book illuminates the nature of immediate justification and the states that provide it. Simply put, immediate justification arises from how things appear to us—from all and only our "seemings."

The author defends each aspect of this "seemings foundationalism," including the assumption of foundationalism itself. Most notably, the author draws from common sense philosopher Thomas Reid to present new and improved arguments for phenomenal conservatism and gives the first systematic argument that seemings alone are capable of immediately justifying. The discussion delves deeply into the nature of seemings and how it is that their assertive phenomenal character makes them (and them alone) capable of immediately justifying. Along the way, the author makes novel contributions to perennial debates such as: internalism versus externalism, deontologism and epistemic blame, epistemic circularity, and the common sense response to skepticism.

Seemings and the Foundations of Justification will appeal to scholars and advanced students interested in epistemology, Thomas Reid, or the common sense tradition.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781032249940
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	12/18/2024
Series:	Routledge Studies in Epistemology
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Blake McAllister (PhD, Baylor University) is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Hillsdale College. He has published extensively in epistemology with special emphasis in early modern and religious epistemology. His work has appeared in venues such as Synthese, Faith & Philosophy, and History of Philosophy Quarterly.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1. Classical Deontologism 2. Immediate Justification and Seemings Foundationalism 3. Some Objections to Phenomenal Conservatism 4. What Are Seemings? 5. Foundationalism Defended 6. The Case for Seemings Exclusivism 7. Against Epistemic Conservatism 8. A Reidian Argument for Phenomenal Conservatism, Part I: Some Seemings 9. A Reidian Argument for Phenomenal Conservatism, Part II: All Seemings

Editorial Reviews

Blake McAllister presents a highly original and well-argued defense of phenomenal conservatism. With such able defenders, there is a reason that phenomenal conservatism is an increasingly popular view of epistemic justification.”

Logan Paul Gage, Franciscan University of Steubenville, USA

From the Publisher