Reason Without Freedom: The Problem of Epistemic Normativity (International Library of Philosophy)

We call beliefs reasonable or unreasonable, justified or unjustified. What does this imply about belief? Does this imply that we are responsible for our beliefs and that we should be blamed for our unreasonable convictions? Or does it imply that we are in control of our beliefs and that what we believe is up to us? Reason Without Freedom argues that the major problems of epistemology have their roots in concerns about our control over and responsibility for belief. David Owens focuses on the arguments of Descartes, Locke and Hume - the founders of epistemology - and presents a critical discussion of the current trends in contemporary epistemology. He proposes that the problems we confront today - scepticism, the analysis of knowlege, and debates on epistemic justification - can be tackled only once we have understood the moral psychology of belief. This can be resolved when we realise that our responsibility for beliefs is profoundly different from our rationality and agency, and that memory and testimony can preserve justified belief without preserving the evidence which might be used to justify it. Reason Without Freedom should be of value to those interested in contemporary epistemology, philosophy of mind and action, ethics, and the history of 17th and 18th century.

We call beliefs reasonable or unreasonable, justified or unjustified. What does this imply about belief? Does this imply that we are responsible for our beliefs and that we should be blamed for our unreasonable convictions? Or does it imply that we are in control of our beliefs and that what we believe is up to us? Reason Without Freedom argues that the major problems of epistemology have their roots in concerns about our control over and responsibility for belief. Owens focuses on the arguments of Descartes, Locke and Humethe founders of epistemologyand presents a critical discussion of the current trends in contemporary epistemology. He proposes that the problems we confront today - skepticism, the analysis of knowledge, and debates on epistemic justification can be tackled when we have understood the moral psychology of belief.

Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 Preface......Page 8 Introduction: rationality, responsibility and control......Page 10 Belief and reason......Page 16 Reflection and rationality......Page 18 Motivating belief......Page 32 Knowledge and conclusive grounds......Page 46 Scepticism, certainty and control......Page 62 Appendix to Part 1: renouncing belief?......Page 80 Freedom and responsibility......Page 84 Freedom and the will......Page 86 Locke on freedom......Page 98 A theory of freedom......Page 110 The scope of responsibility......Page 124 Memory and testimony......Page 140 Knowledge and its preservation......Page 142 The authority of memory......Page 156 The authority of testimony......Page 172 Conclusion: epistemology as moral psychology......Page 186 Notes......Page 190 Bibliography......Page 200 Index......Page 206 Annotation We call beliefs reasonable or unreasonable, justified or unjustified. What does this imply about belief? Does this imply that we are responsible for our beliefs and that we should be blamed for our unreasonable convictions? Or does it imply that we are in control of our beliefs and that what we believe is up to us?Reason Without Freedomargues that the major problems of epistemology have their roots in concerns about our control over and responsibility for belief. Owens focuses on the arguments of Descartes, Locke and Hume--the founders of epistemology--and presents a critical discussion of the current trends in contemporary epistemology. He proposes that the problems we confront today - skepticism, the analysis of knowledge, and debates on epistemic justification can be tackled when we have understood the moral psychology of belief We call beliefs reasonable or unreasonable, justified or unjustified. What does this imply about belief? Does this imply that we are responsible for our beliefs and that we should be blamed for our unreasonable convictions? Or does it imply that we are in control of our beliefs and that what we believe is up to us?Reason Without Freedom argues that the major problems of epistemology have their roots in concerns about our control over and responsibility for belief. Owens focuses on the arguments of Descartes, Locke and Hume -- the founders of epistemology -- and presents a critical discussion of the current trends in contemporary epistemology. He proposes that the problems we confront today -- skepticism, the analysis of knowledge, and debates on epistemic justification can be tackled when we have understood the moral psychology of belief. Introduction: Rationality, Responsibility And Control -- Pt. 1. Belief And Reason. 1. Reflection And Rationality. 2. Motivating Belief. 3. Knowledge And Conclusive Grounds. 4. Scepticism, Certainty And Control. Appendix To Pt. 1. Renouncing Belief? -- Pt. 2. Freedom And Responsibility. 5. Freedom And The Will. 6. Locke On Freedom. 7. A Theory Of Freedom. 8. The Scope Of Responsibility -- Pt. 3. Memory And Testimony. 9. Knowledge And Its Preservation. 10. The Authority Of Memory. 11. The Authority Of Testimony. Conclusion: Epistemology As Moral Psychology. David Owens. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [191]-196] And Index. For Descartes and Locke the very idea that belief formation can be rational requires that it be governable by reflection.