• Philosophy -> Epistemology and Theory of Knowledge

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Can externalism be applied to areas beyond epistemology and theory of knowledge, such as ethics and political philosophy?

Aura Ragbourn

Externalism is a big word that means that sometimes the things outside of us (like the world around us) can affect what we know and believe. Some people think that externalism only applies to theories about knowledge, but others think it can also apply to things like ethics and politics.

For example, imagine you live in a town where everyone tells you that stealing is okay as long as you don't get caught. Even if you know stealing is wrong, hearing it all the time might make you start to question your beliefs. This is an example of externalism affecting your moral values.

In politics, external factors like the media and the opinions of others can also influence our views. For example, someone might vote for a certain candidate because all their friends are voting for them, even if they don't really know or care about that candidate's policies.

So, to answer the original question: yes, some people believe that externalism can apply to more than just theories about knowledge, and can affect our beliefs about ethics and politics too.