Doxastic Voluntarism: A Sceptical Defence

Doxastic voluntarism maintains that we have voluntary control over our beliefs. It is generally denied by contemporary philosophers. I argue that doxastic voluntarism is true: normally, and insofar as we are rational, we are able to suspend belief and, provided we have a natural inclination to belie...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal for the study of skepticism
Main Author: Frederick, Danny (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Brill 2013
In: International journal for the study of skepticism
Further subjects:B Alston belief doubt doxastic voluntarism knowledge scepticism Williams
Online Access: Volltext (Verlag)
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Summary:Doxastic voluntarism maintains that we have voluntary control over our beliefs. It is generally denied by contemporary philosophers. I argue that doxastic voluntarism is true: normally, and insofar as we are rational, we are able to suspend belief and, provided we have a natural inclination to believe, we are able to rescind that suspension, and thus to choose to believe. I show that the arguments that have been offered against doxastic voluntarism fail; and that, if the denial of doxastic voluntarism is part of a strategy to defeat scepticism, it is inept, because knowledge presupposes doubt.
ISSN:2210-5700
Contains:In: International journal for the study of skepticism
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/221057012X627212