Single Idea 8894

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

Full Idea

The 3rd standard objection to coherence is the demand for a meta-justification for coherence, a reason for thinking that justification on the basis of the coherentist view of justification is in fact likely to lead to believing the truth.

Gist of Idea

Coherentists must give a reason why coherent justification is likely to lead to the truth

Source

Laurence Bonjour (A Version of Internalist Foundationalism [2003], 3.2)

Book Reference

Bonjour,L/Sosa,E: 'Epistemic Justification' [Blackwells 2003], p.54


A Reaction

Some coherentists respond by adopting a coherence theory of truth, which strikes me as extremely unwise. There must be an underlying optimistic view, centred on the principle of sufficient reason, that reality itself is coherent. I like Idea 8618.

Related Idea

Idea 8618 Coherence is a justification if truth is its best explanation (not skill in creating fiction) [Elgin]