Overview
This lecture discusses the idea that some core beliefs, while unprovable, are still rational and foundational, focusing on properly basic beliefs and their justification.
Properly Basic Beliefs
- Some beliefs cannot be proven true but are rationally accepted because they are grounded in our experience.
- Examples include belief in the reality of the external world and the reality of the past.
- Philosophers call such foundational, unprovable beliefs "properly basic beliefs."
- These beliefs are not arbitrary; they are supported by sensory experience (seeing, hearing, touching).
The Limits of Proof
- There is no way to definitively prove we are not brains in vats being artificially stimulated.
- Similarly, we cannot prove the world was not created five minutes ago with false memories and evidence.
- Nonetheless, doubting these beliefs would be irrational or unreasonable.
Rationality of Holding Basic Beliefs
- We are justified in holding properly basic beliefs unless provided with strong reasons or evidence that they are unreliable.
- Skeptics must provide good reasons to doubt, otherwise rational belief remains justified.
Properly Basic Belief in God
- The belief in God can also be seen as properly basic for those with genuine experience of God.
- If someone experiences God directly, they are rational to trust that experience unless shown it is unreliable or delusional.
- Such experiences are considered veridical (corresponding to reality) in the absence of defeaters.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Properly Basic Belief — A foundational belief accepted as rational despite lacking proof, rooted in direct experience.
- Veridical — Referring to an experience that accurately represents objective reality.
- Brain-in-a-vat — A skeptical hypothesis suggesting our experiences could be artificially generated and not real.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review examples of properly basic beliefs.
- Consider whether there are other beliefs you accept that may be properly basic.
- Reflect on whether belief in God can be considered properly basic in your own experience.