Are there transitional beliefs? – I think so

Bibliographic Data

ID10345795
AuthorsJulia Staffel (0000-0003-1095-5911, Department of Philosophy University of Colorado Boulder Boulder Colorado USA, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume110
Issue3
Pages1114-1136
Publication date2025-03-21
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePhilosophy and Phenomenological Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0031-8205 • E-ISSN: 1933-1592
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/phpr.70006
OpenAlexW4408739992
LanguageEN
References cited48

This paper investigates a novel question about the relationship between belief and deliberation: Is it ever rationally permissible to believe an answer to a question Q prior to concluding one's deliberation about Q ? This question differs from a more commonly discussed one, insofar as it asks about the rationality of believing that p before settling on p as the answer to some question Q . By contrast, recent literature in this area has focused on whether it can ever be rational to keep inquiring into a question after one has adopted a belief that answers it. I argue that it is possible for rational agents to hold beliefs of a certain kind, namely transitional beliefs, prior to settling on an answer to a question. Developing the argument for this view can help us better understand the nature of belief and its relation to inquiry and deliberation. In particular, it follows that many common claims about what beliefs are don't identify important features of belief itself, but of attitudes that are held as conclusions of deliberations more generally. Further, the view has the surprising consequence that it is typically beneficial to have transitional beliefs that are epistemically akratic

Epistemology · Epistemology, Ethics, and Metaphysics · Philosophy · Psychology

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