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Part of a series on
Epistemology
Outline
Category
Index
Schools
Coherentism
Contextualism
Dogmatism
Empiricism
Fallibilism
Foundationalism
Infallibilism
Infinitism
Naturalism
Perspectivism
Pragmatism
Rationalism
Relativism
Skepticism
Solipsism
Structuralism
Concepts
Action
Analytic–synthetic distinction
A priori and a posteriori
Belief
Credence
Certainty
Data
Experience
Information
Justification
Induction
Knowledge
Meaning
Rationality
Reason
Truth
Wisdom
Domains
Applied epistemology
Evolutionary epistemology
Formal epistemology
Historical epistemology
Metaepistemology
Social epistemology
Virtue epistemology
Epistemologists
Aristotle
Sextus Empiricus
Edmund Gettier
Wang Yangming
René Descartes
David Hume
Immanuel Kant
W. V. O. Quine
more...
Related fields
Epistemic cognition
Epistemic logic
Philosophy of perception
Philosophy of science
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Foundationalism concerns philosophical theories of knowledge resting upon non-inferential justified belief, or some secure foundation of certainty such as a conclusion inferred from a basis of sound premises.[1] The main rival of the foundationalist theory of justification is the coherence theory of justification, whereby a body of knowledge, not requiring a secure foundation, can be established by the interlocking strength of its components, like a puzzle solved without prior certainty that each small region was solved correctly.[1]
Identifying the alternatives as either circular reasoning or infinite regress, and thus exhibiting the regress problem, Aristotle made foundationalism his own clear choice, positing basic beliefs underpinning others.[2] Descartes, the most famed foundationalist, discovered a foundation in the fact of his own existence and in the "clear and distinct" ideas of reason,[1][2] whereas Locke found a foundation in experience. Differing foundations may reflect differing epistemological emphases—empiricists emphasizing experience, rationalists emphasizing reason—but may blend both.[1]
In the 1930s, debate over foundationalism revived.[2] Whereas Moritz Schlick viewed scientific knowledge like a pyramid where a special class of statements does not require verification through other beliefs and serves as a foundation, Otto Neurath argued that scientific knowledge lacks an ultimate foundation and acts like a raft.[2] In the 1950s, foundationalism fell into decline – largely due to the influence of Willard Van Orman Quine,[2] whose ontological relativity found any belief networked[clarification needed] to one's beliefs on all of reality, while auxiliary beliefs somewhere in the vast network are readily modified to protect desired beliefs.
Classically, foundationalism had posited infallibility of basic beliefs and deductive reasoning between beliefs—a strong foundationalism.[2] Around 1975, weak foundationalism emerged.[2] Thus recent foundationalists have variously allowed fallible basic beliefs, and inductive reasoning between them, either by enumerative induction or by inference to the best explanation.[2] And whereas internalists require cognitive access to justificatory means, externalists find justification without such access.
^ abcdSimon Blackburn, The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, 2nd (New York: Oxford University Press, 2005), p 139.
^ abcdefghTed Poston, "Foundationalism" (Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
Classically, foundationalism had posited infallibility of basic beliefs and deductive reasoning between beliefs—a strong foundationalism. Around 1975...
369–370 Klein 1998, Lead Section, § 4. Foundationalism and Coherentism Steup & Neta 2020, § 4.1 Foundationalism Lehrer 2015, 1. The Analysis of Knowledge...
be achieved in the form of foundationalism or of coherentism. Traditionally, the most common response is foundationalism. It posits that there is a first...
the position of Vienna Circle anti-foundationalism. In this he joined Neurath whose long-standing anti-foundationalism is evident from his famous simile...
beliefs (also commonly called foundational beliefs or core beliefs) are, under the epistemological view called foundationalism, the axioms of a belief system...
After responding to foundationalism, coherentists normally characterize their view positively by replacing the foundationalism metaphor of a building...
unless a reason to doubt them is encountered. Some forms of epistemic foundationalism reject this approach. According to them, the whole system of beliefs...
considered possible examples of basic beliefs. The chief criticism of foundationalism is that if a belief is not supported by other beliefs, accepting it...
the reformed epistemologists furthers and challenges a view he dubs "foundationalism": The essence of the Reformed challenge is to accuse the foundationalist...
and the prominence of the Epicurus-like Chinese sage Yang Chu in the foundational Taoist writings. Some authors have undertaken comparative studies of...
However, they can still influence these theories by examining their foundational principles. Metaethics overlaps with various branches of philosophy....
different from the one typically attributed to him on the basis of his foundational works alone. In Towards Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Project, Kant...
of Justification Olsson 2021, Lead Section, § 1. Coherentism Versus Foundationalism. Steup & Neta 2020, 6. The Limits of Cognitive Success Truncellito...
determinism. Another foundational assumption to quantum mechanics is that of free will, which has been argued to be foundational to the scientific method...
philosophy Region Western philosophy School Analytic philosophy Anti-foundationalism Anti-essentialism Therapeutic approach Linguistic turn Logical atomism...
within the Iberian, British, and Central European contexts, and it was foundational to the American Revolution and "American Project" more broadly. Notable...
Postfoundationalism is a theory of epistemology denoting a rejection of an assumed or given authority for a specific action or belief, but arguing, in...
survives the challenges of atheism, cultural relativism, and anti-foundationalism, but welcomes and includes these ideas. Challenges certain long-held...