Tag Archives: externalism

Review: The Analytic Theist (Alvin Plantinga Reader)

Posted on May 16, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

Ed. James Sennett.  Eerdmans. Unlike some anthologies, this isn’t simply a Plantinga chapter here and a long snippet there.  True, there are some reproduced chapters (see his legendary “Reason and Belief in God”) but other chapters in the book, while … Continue reading →

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Thomas Reid: A Clean Epistemology

Posted on May 13, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

Responding to skeptics, Reid notes that our beliefs are formed by our very constitution (40-41). We cannot always give a justifying foundation for every belief (indeed, for most), yet only a fool would say we are irrational in holding beliefs … Continue reading →

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Plantinga: Warrant, the Current Debate

Posted on May 12, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

And so begins Plantinga’s vaunted “Warrant Trilogy.” Reviewing this work presents some challenges for me. I read the books in reverse order (WCB, WPF, and finally WCD). Therefore, I have to resist the urge to fault Plantinga in WCD for … Continue reading →

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Review: Reason, Metaphysics, Mind

Posted on May 12, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

This might be a series of essays in honor of Alvin Plantinga, but few of the essays have anything to do with Plantinga.  Some are extremely technical and it’s not always clear what is going on. Nevertheless, there are a … Continue reading →

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Internalism/Externalism notes

Posted on April 4, 2016 by J. B. Aitken

Some notes on internalism and externalism I made a bad mistake and tried to discuss philosophy with some Christian Reconstructionists.  I couldn’t get them to move beyond sloganeering and cliches.   While this post will do nothing to help them, … Continue reading →

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A Reidian Internalist?

Posted on November 4, 2015 by J. B. Aitken

Thomas Reid is seen as the predecessor to Alvin Plantinga.  The latter holds to a “warrant” view of epistemology:  I don’t have to justify endless justifications for foundational beliefs.  Plantinga draws heavily from Reid. Yet here is a thought:  can … Continue reading →

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