A Note Concerning Infinite Regresses of Deferred Justification

Philosophia 45 (1):349-357 (2017)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

An agent’s belief in a proposition, E0, is justified by an infinite regress of deferred justification just in case the belief that E0 is justified, and the justification for believing E0 proceeds from an infinite sequence of propositions, E0, E1, E2, etc., where, for all n ≥ 0, En+1 serves as the justification for En. In a number of recent articles, Atkinson and Peijnenburg claim to give examples where a belief is justified by an infinite regress of deferred justification. I argue here that there is no reason to regard Atkinson and Peijnenburg’s examples as cases where a belief is so justified. My argument is supported by careful consideration of the grounds upon which relevant beliefs are held within Atkinson and Peijnenburg’s examples.

Author's Profile

Paul D. Thorn
Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf

Analytics

Added to PP
2016-09-18

Downloads
386 (#41,591)

6 months
64 (#62,730)

Historical graph of downloads since first upload
This graph includes both downloads from PhilArchive and clicks on external links on PhilPapers.
How can I increase my downloads?