Accidental True Belief

Definition

Accidental true belief refers to a situation where a person holds a belief that is true, but the truth of the belief is not due to the person's justification or knowledge. This concept raises important questions about the nature of knowledge and what it means to truly know something, especially in the context of Gettier problems, which challenge the traditional definition of knowledge as justified true belief.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The concept of accidental true belief shows that not all true beliefs qualify as knowledge, as the justification for the belief may be lacking or coincidental.
2. In Gettier scenarios, an individual can arrive at an accidental true belief through luck or chance rather than sound reasoning or evidence.
3. This term challenges the long-standing notion that justified true belief is sufficient for knowledge by presenting cases where individuals satisfy all three criteria but still do not possess knowledge.
4. Accidental true beliefs highlight the need for a more refined understanding of knowledge beyond mere justification and truth.
5. Philosophers have proposed various solutions to address the shortcomings exposed by accidental true beliefs, including adding conditions such as reliability or safety to the definition of knowledge.

Review Questions

• How do accidental true beliefs illustrate the limitations of the traditional definition of knowledge?
  • Accidental true beliefs demonstrate that having a justified true belief does not necessarily equate to possessing actual knowledge. The key limitation is that a person may hold a belief that is coincidentally true without proper justification or understanding. Gettier problems provide concrete examples where individuals meet the criteria for justified true belief but fail to meet a more stringent standard for knowledge due to luck or chance.
• Discuss how Gettier problems challenge the sufficiency of justified true belief as a definition of knowledge, using examples.
  • Gettier problems present scenarios where individuals have justified true beliefs that are nonetheless not considered knowledge. For example, if someone believes that their friend owns a Ford because they see a Ford parked in front of their house (which belongs to someone else), they have a justified true belief if their friend indeed owns a Ford. However, this belief is based on misleading evidence. Such examples show that while one can achieve justified true beliefs accidentally, they do not provide a solid foundation for genuine knowledge.
• Evaluate how philosophers have responded to the challenge posed by accidental true beliefs in redefining knowledge.
  • Philosophers have reacted to accidental true beliefs by proposing various amendments to the definition of knowledge, aiming to eliminate cases like those illustrated by Gettier problems. Some suggest adding reliability conditions, which require that beliefs are formed through reliable processes. Others propose safety conditions, which ensure that if something is known, it could not easily have been false. These responses highlight an ongoing philosophical debate about what constitutes knowledge and emphasize the need for more rigorous standards beyond justified true belief.

Related terms

Gettier Problems:

Philosophical scenarios that demonstrate situations where one can have justified true belief without having knowledge, highlighting the limitations of the traditional definition of knowledge.

Justified True Belief:

A traditional tripartite definition of knowledge which asserts that for someone to know a proposition, it must be true, believed, and justified.

Knowledge:

A justified true belief that is more robust and resistant to counterexamples like those presented in Gettier problems.