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How does externalism challenge traditional views of knowledge and justification?

Tab Launchbury

Externalism is a philosophical theory that posits that the content or meaning of our mental states and the justification or warrant for our beliefs depend, at least in part, on factors that are external to our minds. Traditional views of knowledge and justification hold that they are primarily based on the individual's introspection, innate abilities, and rationality.

Externalism challenges traditional views of knowledge and justification in several ways. Firstly, it denies that the content of our mental states and beliefs is solely determined by the individual's introspective and inner mental states. Externalists argue that the meaning or content of our beliefs is partially determined by external factors, such as the causal relations that exist between the agent and the environment.

For instance, consider a person who believes that it is raining outside. According to externalism, the content of this belief is determined not only by the individual's inner mental states but also by the external environment, i.e., the presence of rain in the external world. Externalists argue that the individual's knowledge that it is raining is justified because it is causally linked to the external world, and not merely based on introspection or inner mental states.

Secondly, externalism challenges traditional views of justification by denying that the warrant for our beliefs is solely based on our innate abilities and rationality. Externalists argue that the justification of our beliefs is partially dependent on external factors such as the reliability of the sources of information and the social practices and institutions that regulate our beliefs.

For example, suppose a person believes that smoking leads to lung cancer. According to externalism, the justification for this belief is dependent not only on the individual's rationality and innate abilities but also on the social practice of scientific inquiry, which provides empirical evidence of the causal relationship between smoking and lung cancer. Externalists argue that a person's belief in this case is justified because it is causally linked to a reliable source of information, i.e., scientific inquiry.

In conclusion, externalism challenges traditional views of knowledge and justification by emphasizing the importance of external factors such as the environmental causes and the social practices that regulate our beliefs. Externalism provides a novel and intelligent perspective on how we should think about knowledge and justification, shifting our focus from the individual to the environment and social practices that shape our beliefs.