PHL 110 Chapter Notes - Chapter 6: Evidentialism, Ope, Equiprobability
6 May 2019
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Document Summary
Employment of a pragmatic argument found in plato. Socrates tells meno that believing in the value of inquiry is justified because of the positive impact upon one"s character. If being better, braver, and more active are among our desires, and if we believe that inquiry is permissible facilitates our become better, braver, and more active, then we have pragmatic reason to believe that inquiry is permissible. Pragmatic arguments justify actions that are thought to facilitate the achievement of our goals. If among your goals is a, and doing b and c results in achieving a, then you have reason to do b and c. Doing c helps to bring about a. A is in your interest to obtain. So, you have reason to do b. One kind of pragmatic arguments recommends taking steps to believe a proposition because, if it should turn out to be true, the benefits gained from believing that proposition will be impressive.
