Justified Metaphysical Beliefs

Question Dear Dr. Stratton, I was watching a debate review where Taylor Cyr was talking about a revised Epicurean argument against determinism (pretty close to some of your Free-Thinking Arguments). While I don’t think he raised any good objections (he didn’t spend much time on it), his mention of it made me think of a … Continue reading Justified Metaphysical Beliefs

Book Review: Skepticism and the Veil of Perception

Michael Huemer has established himself as one of today’s leading philosophers on a variety of topics ranging from ethics, to political philosophy, to logical paradoxes, to epistemology. Skepticism and the Veil of Perception (Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2001) is concerned with this last topic. Huemer is concerned with rebutting skepticism in general and skepticism … Continue reading Book Review: Skepticism and the Veil of Perception

Book Review: Justification Without Awareness

I recently finished Michael Bergmann’s Justification Without Awareness. It was very dense and I will certainly have to read it again since some discussions were above my current level of understanding. But I’ll offer some thoughts on the parts that I did understand. The topic is epistemic justification. The book is divided into two parts. … Continue reading Book Review: Justification Without Awareness

Reaching Reliable Beliefs

Question: Dr. Stratton, in your book you point out that if our thoughts and beliefs are causally determined by physics and chemistry, then they are not reliable. I agree since physics and chemistry are not intentionally aimed at true beliefs. However, related to that, you also say that even if God casually determines all of … Continue reading Reaching Reliable Beliefs

Critical Theory as a Hermeneutic

In December of 2019, I graduated with a B.A. in Philosophy from a secular university.  At this secular university, I was immersed in ideas such as critical theory and Marxism, since these views dominated the Philosophy Department.  Having become fascinated in philosophy through a crisis of faith that led me to Christian apologetics in high … Continue reading Critical Theory as a Hermeneutic

Are Your Belief-Forming Faculties Reliable?

In Plato’s Meno, Socrates and Meno discuss the nature of knowledge. Meno asks the master of dialectic about the difference between knowledge and true belief. Meno wonders if there is a real difference, and assuming there is, why knowledge is better. Socrates responds by comparing true belief to one of Daedalus’ statues.[i] The statues are beautiful, … Continue reading Are Your Belief-Forming Faculties Reliable?

Ethnic Epistemology Part 3: Going on Offense

In the last article we covered the Genetic Fallacy in some detail so I would refer the reader back to that article for a more in depth explanation of it rather than spend time rehashing it here. For those who have been following along, you will recall that I mentioned that as we encounter the … Continue reading Ethnic Epistemology Part 3: Going on Offense

Ethnic Epistemology (Part 2): The Genetic Fallacy

So, it’s been way too long since I dropped my last article here at FTM; “Ethnic Epistemology Part 1”. My bad for leaving y’all hanging. When I initially outlined the points I wanted to cover in my Ethnic Epistemology series, I’d intended to keep it pretty simple. My goal was to address a few common … Continue reading Ethnic Epistemology (Part 2): The Genetic Fallacy

Was Quine Naturalizing Epistemology?

Abstract: Naturalized Epistemology is usually seen as Quine’s attempt to move epistemology away from philosophy to science. Some ill-advised Naturalists make use of Quine’s response to Carnap to justify the “end of Philosophy” (or at least Epistemology), and to affirm the primacy of Naturalistic Scientism over other disciplines. Nevertheless, I suggest that such readings of … Continue reading Was Quine Naturalizing Epistemology?

Ethnic Epistemology (Part 1)

Over the last year and some change I’ve been tackling objections to Christianity that have been gaining traction within the context of the African-American community. When I wrote my first FTM article on this subject, “Introducing the Conscious Community”, I honestly had no idea what I was getting myself into. However, I can certainly say … Continue reading Ethnic Epistemology (Part 1)