Foundationalism

Foundationalism is any theory in epistemology (typically, theories of justification, but also of knowledge) that holds that beliefs are justified (known, etc.) based on what are called basic beliefs (also commonly called foundational beliefs). Basic beliefs are beliefs that give justificatory support to other beliefs, and more derivative beliefs are based on those more basic beliefs. The basic beliefs are said to be self-justifying or self-evident, that is, they are justified, although not justified by other beliefs. Typically and historically, foundationalists have held that basic beliefs are justified by mental events or states, such as experiences, that do not constitute beliefs (these are called nondoxastic mental states).

Related Topics:
Epistemology - Theories of justification - Knowledge - Basic belief - Foundational belief - Support - Based - Self-justifying - Self-evident - Mental event - Nondoxastic

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Hence, generally, a foundationalist might offer the following theory of justification:

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:A belief is epistemically justified if and only if (1) it is a basic/foundational belief (i.e., it is justified by some process of direct apprehension, such as perception, introspection, rational intuition), or (2) it is justified by a basic belief or beliefs, or (3) it is justified by a chain of beliefs that is supported by a basic belief or beliefs, and on which all the others are ultimately based.

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