Final answer:
A belief can be considered justified if it is more likely to be true, although it can still be false. Justification rests on other justified beliefs or foundational beliefs, and both internalist and externalism offer perspectives on what constitutes sufficient justification.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Nature of Justification
To consider what could make a belief justified, one must understand that justification aims to make beliefs more likely to be true, though it does not guarantee truth. For example, if Ella justifiably believes the Battle of Hastings occurred in 1066, it's because she trusts her history professor as a source, and perhaps remembers the information being imparted. However, the trust in the professor's words and reliance on memory itself requires justification. These chains of justification may lead to foundational beliefs which serve as the basis for further inferences.
The Fallible Nature of Justification
Justification is not infallible; beliefs can be formed from fallacious reasoning, and seemingly logical justification can still result in falsehoods if the premises are incorrect. Even when using reliable processes, like perception or deductive reasoning, beliefs may turn out to be false. Coherencies and foundationalism are theories that try to address how beliefs support one another and how a solid base of justified beliefs can be established.
Internalist vs. Externalism
Internalist argue that one must be able to recall the reasons for a belief to be justified; externalists like Goldman posit that if a belief is formed through a reliable process, it is justified, even if the individual can't detail the reasons. Meanwhile, perception serves as a common but not infallible source of justification; genuine objects may or may not be behind our sensory experiences.