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Single Idea 4255

[filed under theme 13. Knowledge Criteria / B. Internal Justification / 4. Foundationalism / a. Foundationalism ]

Full Idea

Externalist theories of knowledge are one species of foundationalism.

Clarification

'Foundational' theories base knowledge on something totally reliable

Gist of Idea

Externalist theories of knowledge are one species of foundationalism

Source

Laurence Bonjour (Externalist Theories of Empirical Knowledge [1980], Intro)

Book Ref

'Epistemology: Internalism and Externalism', ed/tr. Kornblith,Hilary [Blackwell 2001], p.10


A Reaction

I don't see why there shouldn't be a phenomenalist, anti-realist version of externalism, which just has 'starting points' instead of a serious commitment to foundations.


The 7 ideas from 'Externalist Theories of Empirical Knowledge'

Externalist theories of knowledge are one species of foundationalism [Bonjour]
The Lottery Paradox says each ticket is likely to lose, so there probably won't be a winner [Bonjour, by PG]
The big problem for foundationalism is to explain how basic beliefs are possible [Bonjour]
The main argument for foundationalism is that all other theories involve a regress leading to scepticism [Bonjour]
Extreme externalism says no more justification is required than the truth of the belief [Bonjour]
External reliability is not enough, if the internal state of the believer is known to be irrational [Bonjour]
Even if there is no obvious irrationality, it may be irrational to base knowledge entirely on external criteria [Bonjour]