The Isolation Objection to Coherence Theories of Justification

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Qom Seminary student of lectures not based on reading books and PhD student of philosophy, University of Tehran,

Abstract

Coherentism theory is a famous alternative theory for foundationalism in the structure of justification. The major objection to coherentism theory of justification is the isolation objection. Using an analytical approach, the present paper studies the objection which is mainly based on the fact that the theory allows for justified beliefs with no justifying relation with reality because it holds that justifying a belief is only a function of its coherence with other beliefs, while some justified beliefs can be supposed with not justifying relation with reality. Therefore, the theory requires no relation between belief and reality. Having mentioned two main responses to the objection, it proves that they are incomplete. It also analyzes the objection and proves that it results from the theory's internalism, indicating that coherentism and foundationalism have similar position about the objection. Accordingly, foundationalism is addressed by the objection as well. Finally, it tries to defend internalist theories against the objection.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Philosophical Theological Research
Volume 19, Issue 3 - Serial Number 73
Articles
September 2017
Pages 128-151

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