The Epistemic Significance of Religious Disagreements: Cases of Unconfirmed Superiority Disagreements

Topoi 40 (5):1139-1147 (2021)
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Abstract

Religious disagreements are widespread. Some philosophers have argued that religious disagreements call for religious skepticism, or a revision of one’s religious beliefs. In order to figure out the epistemic significance of religious disagreements, two questions need to be answered. First, what kind of disagreements are religious disagreements? Second, how should one respond to such disagreements? In this paper, I argue that many religious disagreements are cases of unconfirmed superiority disagreements, where parties have good reason to think they are not epistemic peers, yet they lack good reason to determine who is superior. Such disagreements have been left relatively unexplored. I then argue that in cases of unconfirmed superiority disagreements, disputants can remain relatively steadfast in holding to their beliefs. Hence, we can remain relatively steadfast in our beliefs in such cases of religious disagreements.

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Frederick Choo
Rutgers - New Brunswick

Citations of this work

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References found in this work

Reflection and disagreement.Adam Elga - 2007 - Noûs 41 (3):478–502.
The epistemic significance of disagreement.Thomas Kelly - 2005 - In Tamar Szabo Gendler & John Hawthorne, Oxford Studies in Epistemology Volume 1. Oxford University Press UK. pp. 167-196.
The Epistemic Significance of Disagreement.Thomas Kelly - 2005 - In Tamar Szabo Gendler & John Hawthorne, Oxford Studies in Epistemology Volume 1. Oxford University Press UK. pp. 167-196.

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