Final answer:
The difference between internal and external theories of justification lies in whether the factors that justify a belief are within the person's mind (internal) or include external elements such as the reliability of belief-forming processes (external). The correct option is a) Internal theories focus on the justification within the mind; and external theories emphasize external factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Difference Between Internal and External Theories of Justification
The difference between internal and external theories of justification pertains to the origin and type of factors that contribute to the justification of a belief.
The correct answer from the provided options is: a) Internal theories focus on the justification within the mind; external theories emphasize external factors.
Internalism, as a theory of justification, contends that the legitimacy of a belief is contingent upon factors that are internal to a person's mind—such as one's own mental states, intentions, concepts, and potentially accessible evidence.
Conversely, externalism posits that some aspects of a belief's justification are not limited to what is internally accessible to the individual, but also include factors such as the reliability of the processes or sources that have led to the belief.
An instance highlighting internalism might involve assessing the reasons within a person's thought process. However, an exemplar of externalism might reference a belief's grounding in reliable methods or external validations, such as scientific testing or consistent and credible sources. The correct option is a) Internal theories focus on the justification within the mind; and external theories emphasize external factors.