Single Idea 2734

[catalogued under 13. Knowledge Criteria / B. Internal Justification / 5. Coherentism / c. Coherentism critique]

Full Idea

A schizophrenic who thinks he is Napoleon, if he has a completely consistent story with enough interlocking details, may have a belief system that is superbly coherent.

Gist of Idea

A consistent madman could have a very coherent belief system

Source

Robert Audi (Epistemology: contemporary introduction [1998], VII p.194)

Book Reference

Audi,Robert: 'Epistemology: a contemporary introduction' [Routledge 1998], p.194


A Reaction

This is an exaggeration, but the fact is that one isolated lie is totally coherent, so coherence can only emerge when a system is large. Sense experience must be central to coherence.