We can now address the question directly: how can we know if our beliefs are true? We have already established that our goal is to have true beliefs and that our beliefs become knowledge when there are adequate reason or justification. There are three main paths that we can take.
Reason – As human beings, we possess the faculty of reason. We can evaluate beliefs and their grounds through logical analysis. This assumes that something true will not be irrational or incoherent. However, it is possible to have logical arguments that are not grounded in reality. They are logically-valid but not true. So we need another tool to work with reason.
Evidence – We live in an orderly world where we can observe the evidence and draw conclusions from the evidence. Assumed is that something true would not be in complete contradiction with the observable world. We cannot observe everything, however and all evidence must be interpreted. So, evidence cannot stand on its own without the help of the other two paths.
Ethics/Practice – This path cannot stand on its own, but it can be a helpful way to evaluate certain beliefs. In this case, we think about the ethical or practical implications of a belief. Essentially, we ask, “If someone lived this out, what kind of life would it lead to?” This assumes that a true belief would not be completely out of step with our moral intuition.
I happen to think that none of them can stand on their own, but all of them—when used together—move us toward that “adequate grounds” to confirm whether a belief is true. If reason, evidence and ethics all start to point in one direction, we can grow in our confidence that it is true.
I hope this helps. Continue to search for the truth!
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