Overview

You believe the sun will rise tomorrow. Why? Justification is the difference between a lucky guess and knowledge. It’s the “because” in “I know X because…”

Core Idea

JTB Theory: Knowledge = Justified True Belief. You need all three. (Gettier cases challenge this, but it’s the starting point).

Formal Definition (if applicable)

Foundationalism: The view that knowledge is like a building. It rests on a foundation of basic beliefs that don’t need justification (e.g., “I exist” or “I am in pain”). All other beliefs are built on top.

Intuition

  • Coherentism: Knowledge is like a web. A belief is justified if it fits in with your other beliefs. (No foundation, just mutual support).
  • Reliabilism: A belief is justified if it was produced by a reliable process (like good eyesight), even if you can’t explain why.

Examples

  • Internalism: You must have access to the reasons for your belief (in your head).
  • Externalism: The reasons can be outside your head (e.g., your brain is working correctly), as long as they are real.

Common Misconceptions

  • “Justification guarantees truth.” (No, you can be justified in believing something false. E.g., You see a clock that says 12:00, so you believe it’s 12:00. You are justified. But if the clock is broken, you are wrong.)
  • Evidentialism: You should only believe what fits the evidence.
  • Skepticism: The view that justification is impossible.
  • Epistemic Luck: Getting the right answer for the wrong reason.

Applications

  • Law: “Beyond a reasonable doubt” is a standard of justification.
  • Science: The Scientific Method is a machine for generating justification.
  • Religion: Faith vs. Reason.

Criticism / Limitations

The Munchhausen Trilemma: All justification leads to either 1) Infinite regress, 2) Circular reasoning, or 3) Arbitrary stopping point.

Further Reading

  • BonJour, The Structure of Empirical Knowledge
  • Goldman, Epistemology and Cognition