more from Laurence Bonjour

Single Idea 21509

[catalogued under 13. Knowledge Criteria / B. Internal Justification / 5. Coherentism / a. Coherence as justification]

Full Idea

On any plausible conception of coherence, there will always be many, probably infinitely many, different and incompatible systems of belief which are equally coherent.

Gist of Idea

There will always be a vast number of equally coherent but rival systems

Source

Laurence Bonjour (The Structure of Empirical Knowledge [1985], 5.5)

Book Reference

Bonjour,Laurence: 'The Structure of Empirical Knowledge' [Harvard 1985], p.107


A Reaction

If 'infinitely many' theories are allowed, that blocks the coherentist hope that widening and precisifying the system will narrow down the options and offer some verisimilitude. If we stick to current English expression, that should keep them finite.