Patrizio, Ross F. (2024) Testimonial liberalism and the balance of epistemic goals. Philosophical Studies, 181 (11). pp. 2997-3015. ISSN 0031-8116
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The paper aims to introduce a new metric for adjudicating the debate between conservatism and liberalism in epistemology. The author argues that liberals have been unfairly criticized for their views on testimonial justification, and that a new approach can help to dispel these criticisms.AI Topics:
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There are two broad views in the epistemology of testimony, conservatism and liberalism. The two views disagree over a particular necessary condition on testimonial justification: the positive reasons requirement (PRR). Perhaps the most prominent objection levelled at liberalism from the conservative camp stems from gullibility; without PRR, the thought goes, an objectionable form of gullibility looms large for liberals. In this paper I aim to make two main contributions: to introduce a new metric for adjudicating this debate; and to argue that, from the perspective of this new metric, the liberal view is stronger than has been appreciated. Drawing on work from James (The Will to believe and other essays in Popular Philosophy, Harvard University Press, 1896), Goldman (Epistemology and Cognition, Harvard University Press, 1986), and Kelp et al. (Synthese 197:5187–5202, 2020), I firstly countenance the distinction between positive and negative epistemic measures. Positive measures concern, roughly, the acquisition of truths, whereas negative measures concern the avoidance of falsehoods. Both, it is argued, are relevant to epistemic justification, but this debate has proceeded in such a way as to overemphasise the importance of the latter over the former. Once this distinction is made, new conceptual terrain opens for the liberal. Rather than being resigned to a predominantly defensive role—of mitigating worries about negative measures—the liberal can go on the offensive, and explore the independent epistemic strengths of their position. The upshot is that liberals have a new way to dispel their most prominent objection.
Title | Testimonial liberalism and the balance of epistemic goals |
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Creators | Patrizio, Ross F. |
Identification Number | 10.1007/s11098-024-02244-1 |
Date | November 2024 |
Divisions | College of Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities > Philosophy |
Publisher | Springer |
Additional Information | This research was funded by Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities (SGSAH) and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). |
URI | https://pub.demo35.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/120 |
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Item Type | Article |
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Depositing User | Unnamed user with email ejo1f20@soton.ac.uk |
Date Deposited | 11 Jun 2025 16:35 |
Revision | 21 |
Last Modified | 12 Jun 2025 11:41 |
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