信念、断言与实用入侵--新实用主义信念及其批判

Belief,Assertion and Pragmatic Encroachment:The Neo-pragmatist Conception of Belief Critiqued

信度还原论是当前主流的信念理论,主张信念是一种位于某个阈值之上的信度。实用信度还原论进一步主张,相信p就是拥有足以合理化按照p行动的信度p。这种理论很好地解释了知识的实用入侵现象,但它不能全面刻画信念的状态,特别是忽视了信念与真之间的内在联系。与之相对,断言倾向论主张信念是一种求真的断言倾向。根据这种观点,信念不仅试图精确地表征世界,而且还表达了一种积极的支持性态度。正是这种态度把我们指向了行动。总之,断言倾向论不仅保留了实用信度还原论解释实用入侵现象的功能,而且更好地揭示了信念与真之间的关系。

The Credal reductivism is the mainstream theory of belief,arguing that belief is a kind of credence above a certain threshold.Furthermore,the pragmatic credal reductivism argues that believing p is having a credence p high enough to motivate you to act as if p.It can explain pragmatic encroachment very well;however,it ignores the inner relationship between belief and truth.Instead,the affirming disposition account treats belief as a disposition of affirmation aims at truth.According to the account,we not only use belief to accurately represent the world,but also express a positive supportive attitude.It is this kind of attitude that points us to action.In short,affirming disposition account can explain pragmatic encroachment and provide a better concept of belief.