Final answer:
Justification is the logical support that makes a belief more likely to be true but does not guarantee its truth. It involves internal factors within one's mind or external sources.
Step-by-step explanation:
At its core, justification involves providing reasons to support a belief, making it more likely to be true. When we claim to be justified in holding a belief, we rely on logical support or reasoning. For example, we are justified in believing our dog is a mammal because it aligns with the logical conclusion that all dogs are mammals. Additionally, one might be justified in believing a mathematical result like 3√√/1332 = 444 based on correct derivation or even the use of a reliable calculator.
Theories of justification fall into two categories: internal and external. Internalism suggests that justification relies entirely on factors within a person's own mind, while externalism posits that the reliability of justification may come from external sources. For instance, the use of a calculator could be considered an external source of justification
Justification does not guarantee truth, but rather increases its likelihood. This is because justification is inherently fallible. For example, Ella believes the Battle of Hastings occurred in 1066 because her history professor, who is considered a reliable source, told her so. However, this belief chain raises the question of when and where the justification process terminates, which introduces the debate between foundationalism and other theories like coherence.
Beliefs are not justified in isolation, but rather in a coherent system of beliefs. When a belief coherently fits with others, its justification is strengthened. However, if it does not cohere, as in the example where a roommate's testimony conflicts with known facts about the bank's operating hours, the justification can be weakened. The overarching question in epistemology regarding whether knowledge of the external world is plausible essentially revolves around the potential for justification of our beliefs about that world.