Dispositional Architecture of Epistemic Reasons

This book explores the conditions under which epistemic reasons provide justification for beliefs, drawing on metaethical theories of reasons and normativity. It offers a dispositional account of how propositional and doxastic justification are related and applies this framework to perceptual justification, defending dogmatism against conservatism. It also examines epistemological topics such as defeat, self-knowledge, reasoning, emotions, and motivational internalism.

Format: Hardback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 07 September 2020
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The author's exploration of epistemic reasons is a significant contribution to the field of epistemology. By drawing on metaethical theories of reasons and normativity, the author provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the conditions under which epistemic reasons provide justification for beliefs.

In the first part of the book, the author introduces the dispositional architecture of epistemic reasons. This framework aims to explain how propositional and doxastic justification are related to one another. The author offers and defends a dispositional account of the basing relation, which is the relationship between beliefs and the reasons that support them.

The author argues that the dispositional view has the resources to provide an acceptable account of the notion of the basing relation. He emphasizes that the dispositional approach can account for the fact that different types of reasons can support the same belief, such as perceptual reasons and testimonial reasons. The author also discusses the role of dispositions in determining the strength of epistemic reasons and how they can be influenced by factors such as cognitive abilities and environmental factors.

In the second part of the book, the author examines how his theory of epistemic reasons bears on the issues involving perceptual reasons. He defends dogmatism about perceptual justification against conservatism and shows how his dispositional framework illuminates certain claims of dogmatism and its adherence to justification internalism. The author argues that the dispositional approach can provide a more nuanced account of perceptual justification than traditional accounts that rely on the concept of direct perception.

Finally, the author applies his dispositional framework to epistemological topics including the structure of defeat, self-knowledge, reasoning, emotions, and motivational internalism. The author argues that the dispositional approach can provide a more comprehensive account of these topics than traditional accounts that rely on the concept of justification internalism.

The Dispositional Architecture of Epistemic Reasons is a well-written and accessible book that will be of interest to scholars and advanced students working in epistemology and metaethics. The author's clear and concise writing style makes the book easy to follow, and the extensive use of examples and case studies helps to illustrate the author's arguments. The book also provides a valuable resource for those interested in developing a more nuanced understanding of the conditions under which epistemic reasons provide justification for beliefs.

In conclusion, The Dispositional Architecture of Epistemic Reasons is a groundbreaking work that provides a comprehensive and nuanced account of the conditions under which epistemic reasons provide justification for beliefs. By drawing on metaethical theories of reasons and normativity, the author offers a framework that can account for the relationship between propositional and doxastic justification and the notion of the basing relation. The book's application to perceptual justification and other epistemological topics demonstrates the value of the dispositional approach and its ability to provide a more comprehensive account of these topics than traditional accounts. This book will be of interest to scholars and advanced students working in epistemology and metaethics.

Weight: 490g
Dimension: 159 x 235 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367509866