We have positive epistemic duties.

  • Published In: Nous (0029-4624), 2025, v. 59, n. 4. P. 1049 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: McGrath, Matthew 3 of 3

Abstract

The article explores the concept of positive epistemic duties, arguing that individuals have obligations to believe certain propositions based on the evidence available to them. It distinguishes between simple, compound, and disjunctive positive duties, similar to moral duties, and posits that these duties can exist even when individuals do not fully appreciate the strength of their evidence. The author critiques existing philosophical arguments against the existence of positive epistemic duties, particularly those grounded in Evidentialism, and presents cases where individuals should revise their beliefs upon acquiring counterevidence. Ultimately, the article asserts that positive epistemic duties are legitimate and can lead to epistemic criticism for those who fail to believe in light of strong evidence, such as vaccine safety. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Nous (0029-4624). 2025/12, Vol. 59, Issue 4, p1049
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Religion and Philosophy
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:0029-4624
  • DOI:10.1111/nous.12547
  • Accession Number:189393083
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Nous (0029-4624) is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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