Appearance and Explanation: Phenomenal Explanationism in Epistemology

Phenomenal Conservatism is an internalist theory of epistemic justification that claims that the appearance of things gives us prima facie justification for believing that they are that way. This book explores the prospects of integrating Phenomenal Conservatism with Explanationism, which offers advantages over both theories. Phenomenal Explanationism is a unified and comprehensive theory that provides epistemic justification while avoiding the problems of Phenomenal Conservatism.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 03 December 2021
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Phenomenal Conservatism, a captivating and widely embraced internalist theory of epistemic justification, holds the belief that the mere appearance of things being a certain way provides a strong basis for believing that they are indeed that way. Despite its widespread appeal, Phenomenal Conservatism encounters numerous objections and challenges. Epistemologists have raised concerns that it conflicts with Bayesianism, struggles with bootstrapping and cognitive penetration problems, fails to ensure the stability of epistemic justification, lacks an account of defeat, and falls short of being a comprehensive theory of epistemic justification.

In response to these criticisms, this book aims to demonstrate that Phenomenal Conservatism is not entirely immune to these issues. However, it also explores the potential for integrating Phenomenal Conservatism with Explanationism, the view that epistemic justification is a matter of explanatory relations between one's evidence and the propositions supported by that evidence. The result of this integration is Phenomenal Explanationism, a theory that offers distinct advantages over Phenomenal Conservatism and Explanationism taken individually.

Phenomenal Explanationism is a highly unified and comprehensive internalist theory of epistemic justification that fulfills the promises of Phenomenal Conservatism while sidestepping its pitfalls. It provides a robust framework for understanding how we come to know and justify our beliefs. By emphasizing the role of phenomenal experiences and the explanatory connections between evidence and propositions, Phenomenal Explanationism offers a more nuanced and comprehensive account of epistemic justification.

One of the key advantages of Phenomenal Explanationism is its ability to address the concerns raised against Phenomenal Conservatism. For instance, it reconciles Phenomenal Conservatism with Bayesianism by recognizing the importance of updating beliefs based on new evidence. Phenomenal Explanationism also addresses the bootstrapping problem by incorporating the concept of explanatory coherence, which ensures that our beliefs are coherent and compatible with one another. Additionally, Phenomenal Explanationism provides a clear account of defeat, recognizing that our beliefs can be undermined by counterarguments and that we must be open to updating our beliefs in light of new evidence.

Furthermore, Phenomenal Explanationism offers a more comprehensive understanding of epistemic justification. It recognizes that epistemic justification is not solely based on the strength of one's evidence but also involves factors such as the reliability of one's cognitive faculties, the context in which one's beliefs are formed, and the broader cultural and social norms that shape one's epistemic practices. Phenomenal Explanationism thus provides a more holistic and nuanced account of how we come to know and justify our beliefs.

In conclusion, Phenomenal Conservatism is a promising and popular internalist theory of epistemic justification. While it faces numerous objections and challenges, this book demonstrates that Phenomenal Conservatism is not entirely immune to these issues. By integrating Phenomenal Conservatism with Explanationism, we can develop a more robust and comprehensive theory of epistemic justification that offers distinct advantages over Phenomenal Conservatism and Explanationism taken individually. Phenomenal Explanationism provides a unified and comprehensive framework for understanding how we come to know and justify our beliefs, addressing concerns such as compatibility with Bayesianism, bootstrapping, defeat, and the broader context of epistemic justification.

Weight: 442g
Dimension: 240 x 160 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192896872