Is it ever rational to hold inconsistent beliefs?

Philosophical Studies 181 (12):3459-3475 (2024)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

In this paper I investigate whether there are any cases in which it is rational for a person to hold inconsistent beliefs and, if there are, just what implications this might have for the theory of epistemic justification. A number of issues will crop up along the way – including the relation between justification and rationality, the nature of defeat, the possibility of epistemic dilemmas, the importance of positive epistemic duties, and the distinction between transitional and terminal attitudes.

Other Versions

No versions found

Similar books and articles

Belief, Rational and Justified.Wes Siscoe - 2021 - Mind 130 (517):59-83.
The structure of moral encroachment.Jaakko Hirvelä - 2023 - Philosophical Studies 180 (5-6):1793-1812.
In the Purgatory of Ideas: On the transitional nature of rational philosophical attitudes.Julia Staffel - forthcoming - In Sanford C. Goldberg & Mark Walker (eds.), Attitude in Philosophy. Oxford University Press.
Inquiry and trust: An epistemic balancing act.Heather Rabenberg - 2024 - Philosophical Studies 181 (2-3):583-601.
Can Arbitrary Beliefs be Rational?Mattias Skipper - 2023 - Episteme 20 (2):377-392.
Seemings and the Response to Radical Skepticism.Noah Lemos - 2022 - International Journal for the Study of Skepticism 13 (2):105-119.
Rationality and Belief.Ralph Wedgwood - 2023 - Oxford, GB: Oxford University Press.

Analytics

Added to PP
2024-08-21

Downloads
259 (#100,899)

6 months
259 (#8,832)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Martin Smith
University of Edinburgh

Citations of this work

No citations found.

Add more citations

References found in this work

Reasons First.Mark Schroeder - 2021 - Oxford University Press.
Evidentialism.Richard Feldman & Earl Conee - 1985 - Philosophical Studies 48 (1):15 - 34.
Philosophical Explanations.Robert Nozick - 1981 - Mind 93 (371):450-455.
Justification, knowledge, and normality.Clayton Littlejohn & Julien Dutant - 2020 - Philosophical Studies 177 (6):1593-1609.

View all 38 references / Add more references