Epistemic Defeat: A Treatment of Defeat as an Independent Phenomenon

Jan Constantin

Published by De Gruyter 2021

Epistemic Defeat

A Treatment of Defeat as an Independent Phenomenon

Jan Constantin

Volume 47 in the series Epistemic Studies

https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110730548

Overview
Contents

About this book

A number of well-developed theories shed light on the question, under what circumstances our beliefs enjoy epistemic justification. Yet, comparatively little is known about epistemic defeat—when new information causes the loss of epistemic justification. This book proposes and defends a detailed account of epistemic defeaters. The main kinds of defeaters are analyzed in detail and integrated into a general framework that aims to explain how beliefs lose justification. It is argued that defeaters introduce incompatibilities into a noetic system and thereby prompt a structured re-evaluation process that makes a justified reinstatement of the defeated belief impossible. The account is then applied to the topic of disagreement, where it is used in an argument for conciliationism, as well as a new explanation for higher-order defeat. Throughout the book, the notion of defeat is the center of attention, while a number of new issues are discussed at the intersections of defeat and justification. Specifically, new problems are raised for broadly internalist accounts of defeat, a fully descriptive reliabilist account of defeat is provided, and the case for normative defeat is revisited.

Author / Editor information

Jan Constantin, University of Cologne, Cologne.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	I
Preface Publicly Available Download PDF	V
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	VII
Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
1 Defeaters, Functional Profiles and Deep Distinctions Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	7
2 Rebutting Defeat Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	28
3 Undercutting Defeat Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	60
4 Putting Things Together Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	147
5 Defeat and Epistemic Justification Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	169
6 Defeat and Disagreement Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	233
Conclusion Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	271
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	274
Index – Definitions and Examples Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	284
Index – Names Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	287

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: De Gruyter
Audience: Scholars of epistemology, institutes, libraries
Pages
- Front matter: 10
- Main content: 287
Illustrations
- Tables: 2
Keywords: Epistemic defeat; epistemic justification; disagreement

eBook

Published: June 21, 2021
ISBN: 9783110730548

Hardcover

Published: June 21, 2021
ISBN: 9783110735352

Paperback

Published: May 8, 2023
ISBN: 9783111269993