An introduction to pragmatic encroachment, the view that the pragmatic or practical stakes of a belief can make a difference to whether that belief is justified or known.
Category: Epistemology
Ecstatic Experiences: The Philosophy of ‘Losing Yourself’
"Ecstatic experiences” are when we seem to joyfully “lose” or transcend or go beyond ourselves. This essay introduces some philosophical issues about ecstatic experiences.
Atheism: Believing God Does Not Exist
This essay introduces some of the core philosophical issues about atheism: what it is, how and why people accept atheism, and the relationships between atheism and meaning in life and ethics.
“That’s Subjective”: Subjectivism about Truth, Beauty, and Goodness
People sometimes say that judgments about what’s true, what’s ethical, what others find beautiful or aesthetically pleasing, and more are "subjective." What does “subjective” really mean? Are judgments like these truly “subjective”? This essay introduces different answers to these questions.
Transformative Experiences: Can Life-Changing Choices Be Both Rational and Authentic?
Transformative experiences are radically new experiences that significantly change who you are. Can we rationally choose to have transformative experiences in a way that’s authentic to our own values? This essay explores this question.
Arguments from Religious Experience: Richard Swinburne’s ‘Principle of Credulity’
Philosopher Richard Swinburne (b. 1934) attempts to categorize these different types of religious experience. He argues that such experiences are usually some evidence for the existence of whatever people believe they encounter. This essay summarizes Swinburne’s philosophy of religious experience.
William James on Mystical Experience
William James is considered the first philosopher of mysticism. This essay introduces James’ views on mystical experience.
Pyrrhonian Skepticism: Suspending Judgment
Pyrrhonian skepticism is named after an ancient school of thought based on the teachings of Pyrrho of Elis (c. 360–270 BCE). This essay explains Pyrrhonian skepticism, what motivates it, and some responses to it.
Seemings: Justifying Beliefs Based on How Things Seem
We often have something like a sense or feeling that something is true. Many philosophers believe that there’s a type of mental attitude that is connected to such feelings, called a seeming. This essay reviews some important philosophical issues about seemings.
Philosophy of Color
What is color? Where, if anywhere, is it? Why do we see it? When do we see it correctly? And how should we go about answering these surprisingly difficult questions? This essay surveys philosophical work on color and color perception.