Epistemology
𝗘𝗣𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗚𝗬
Church of the Best Possible World
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𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲
This page defines the epistemological standards endorsed by the Church of the Best Possible World. These standards govern how claims are justified, evaluated, and distinguished from belief. Epistemology addresses how claims may be known or supported, and is separate from the moral commitments defined in the Canon.
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𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲
Justification of any claim requires evidence proportional to its entailments.
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𝗧𝘆𝗽𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝘀
Claims are categorized according to the kind of evidence required to justify them.
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𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝘀
Claims concerning concepts, definitions, logical relationships, or meanings. Conceptual claims require conceptual evidence, such as logical consistency, definitional clarity, or analytic argument.
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𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝘀
Claims concerning states of affairs in the observable world. Empirical claims require empirical evidence, including observation, experimentation, measurement, or novel testable prediction.
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𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗽𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝘀
Claims concerning the fundamental nature of reality or necessary conditions of existence. Metaphysical claims require metaphysical justification, such as direct self-evident awareness or unavoidable presupposition.
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𝗘𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲
Information or justification that increases the rational credibility of a claim. Evidence must be relevant to the type of claim being made and sufficient in strength to support its entailments.
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𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀
The logical, practical, or moral consequences that would follow if a claim were true. Claims with greater entailments require proportionally stronger justification.
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𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳
Acceptance of a proposition as true. Belief alone does not constitute justification and may exist independently of evidence.
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𝗙𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵
An epistemically unjustified belief. Faith, as defined here, is belief held without sufficient evidence proportional to its entailments.
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𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳
A belief supported by evidence appropriate in kind and strength to the claim’s entailments.
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𝗨𝗻𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳
A belief held without sufficient evidence proportional to its entailments.
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𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲
A justified belief that is true. Knowledge requires both truth and adequate justification.
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𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳
The responsibility to provide justification rests with the individual or institution making a claim. Extraordinary claims require proportionally extraordinary evidence.
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𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆
Moral claims endorsed by the Church are defined in the Canon. The epistemological standards described here govern how such claims are evaluated, defended, or revised. Acceptance of a moral commitment does not imply empirical proof unless the claim itself is empirical in nature.
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𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆
The Church acknowledges the possibility of error and affirms that claims may be revised in light of stronger evidence or clearer reasoning. Commitment to epistemic standards includes openness to correction.
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𝗦𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀
Moral truth, empirical fact, and metaphysical necessity are distinct domains. Confusion between these domains undermines clarity and justification. Claims must be evaluated within the appropriate epistemic category.