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Single Idea 3074

[filed under theme 13. Knowledge Criteria / A. Justification Problems / 3. Internal or External / b. Pro-externalism ]

Full Idea

The reasons for which people believe things are rarely conscious.

Gist of Idea

People's reasons for belief are rarely conscious

Source

Gilbert Harman (Thought [1973], 2.2)

Book Ref

Harman,Gilbert: 'Thought' [Princeton 1977], p.28

A Reaction

Probably correct. The interesting bit is when they bring the beliefs into consciousness and scrutinise them rationally. Philosophers routinely overthrow their natural beliefs in this way.

The 5 ideas with the same theme [reasons to favour externalist justifcation]:

18260 If we knew what we know, we would be astonished [Kant]
3074 People's reasons for belief are rarely conscious [Harman]
8832 If justified beliefs are well-formed beliefs, then animals and young children have them [Goldman]
19506 Externalism is better than internalism in dealing with radical scepticism [Pritchard,D]
19709 Internalism in epistemology over-emphasises deliberation about beliefs [Vahid]