The Structure of Belief
When faced with an issue, we often ask ourselves the question: How should we think about this issue? What beliefs or opinions we should have about it? One branch of epistemology – the theory of rational belief – studies the general principles that explain what the right answers to such questions are. But in order to articulate such principles, we need to know what the options are – that is, which sorts of beliefs or opinions are available. Traditionally, there are two models of belief or opinion that epistemologists have relied on here. On one model, the beliefs that you now have just consist of a body of propositions. On the second model, the beliefs that you now have consist of your subjective probability function. It will be argued here that neither of these models is fit for purpose. An alternative model of belief will be suggested to take their place.
Date:
21 November 2018, 16:30 (Wednesday, 7th week, Michaelmas 2018)
Venue:
Merton College, Merton Street OX1 4JD
Venue Details:
John Roberts Room
Speaker:
Professor Ralph Wedgwood (University of Southern California)
Organising department:
Merton College
Organisers:
Sebastian Liu (University of Oxford),
Matthew Hewson (University of Oxford)
Booking required?:
Not required
Cost:
Free
Audience:
Members of the University only
Editor:
Simon Cope
