Phenomenal conservatism Totally Explained

Everything about Phenomenal Conservatism totally explained

In epistemology, phenomenal conservatism (PC) holds that it's reasonable to assume that things are as they appear, unless there are positive grounds for doubting this. (The term derives from the Greek word "phainomenon", meaning "appearance".) The principle was initially defended in Huemer 2001, where it was formulated as follows:

If it seems to S as if p, then S thereby has at least prima facie justification for believing that p.

A later formulation, designed to allow the principle to encompass inferential as well as foundational justification, reads as follows.

If it seems to S that p, then, in the absence of defeaters, S thereby has at least some degree of justification for believing that p.

Arguments for PC

Phenomenal Conservatism has been defended on three grounds.

First, the principle enables one to account for the justification of most, perhaps all, of the beliefs that we commonly take as justified, including sensory observations, memory beliefs, and beliefs based on reasoning.

Second, it's argued that alternative epistemological positions are self-defeating in the sense that, unless PC is true, few or no beliefs would be justified, including beliefs in any alternative epistemological theories. This is supported by the claims

that all or nearly all beliefs are causally explained by appearances, that is, one believes a proposition because it seems true to one; and
that a belief is justified only if it's causally explained by a factor that constitutes justification for the proposition believed.

Third, it's argued that PC is most faithful to the motivations underlying epistemological internalism.

Criticisms of PC

Critics of Phenomenal Conservatism have argued:

That the principle is overly liberal, making far too many beliefs count as justified. In particular, PC implies that one is justified in believing a proposition that appears true to one, even in the absence of any reason for thinking that the faculty generating the appearance is reliable.

That the self-defeat argument unfairly begs the question against skepticism.

That (in its original formulation) the principle makes inferential beliefs count as foundational.

That PC enables a belief to be justified even when the relevant appearance (and so the belief) was ultimately caused by epistemically irresponsible behavior, such as wishful thinking. In addition, as a form of foundationalism, PC is open to some of the common objections to that doctrine.

Annotated bibliography

Huemer, Michael. Skepticism and the Veil of Perception (Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield, 2001).

Source of the doctrine of Phenomenal Conservatism.

BonJour, Laurence. "In Search of Direct Realism," Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 69 (2004): 349-67.

Criticism of Huemer 2001.

Huemer, Michael. "Compassionate Phenomenal Conservatism," Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, forthcoming.

Response to BonJour 2004, reformulation of the self-defeat argument.

Markie, Peter. "The Mystery of Perceptual Justification," Philosophical Studies, forthcoming.

Objects that PC is too liberal and enables beliefs caused by epistemically irresponsible behavior to be justified.

Steup, Matthias. "Internalist Reliabilism," Philosophical Issues 14 (2004): 403-25.

Makes the objection that PC is too liberal.

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