The traditional model of rationality e.g. David Hume

1
The traditional model of rationality (e.g. David
Hume)
rational beliefs
irrational beliefs

• beliefs supported by (and in proportion to)
  appropriate evidence
• self-evident beliefs (e.g. 2 2 4)

All beliefs that are not rational

• This model groups together (for example)
• the belief, based on insufficient evidence, that
  objects continue to exist when no-one observes
  them
• the belief, based on insufficient evidence, that
  my microwave sends out dangerous subliminal
  messages

Humes way of distinguishing (1) and (2) (1)
is a natural belief, (2) is not. Therefore, there
is no point in stigmatizing (1), even though it
is irrational.
2
An alternative model of rationality (e.g. Norman
Malcolm)
rational beliefs
irrational beliefs
non-rational beliefs
beliefs within framework that are supported by
evidence or are self-evident
all new beliefs within framework
framework (groundless) beliefs (e.g. new people
have minds, the future will resemble the past,
God exists)

• A framework belief
• is not based on evidence, since evidence assumes
  framework
• is neither true nor false, since a belief is
  true if and only if it coheres with other beliefs
  within framework

• Malcolms way of distinguishing
• the belief, based on no evidence, that objects
  continue to exist when no-one observes them, from
• the belief, based on no evidence, that my
  microwave sends out dangerous subliminal
  messages
• (1) is a framework belief, (2) is not.

3
The traditional model of rationality (e.g. David
Hume)
rational beliefs
irrational beliefs

• beliefs supported by (and in proportion to)
  appropriate evidence
• self-evident beliefs (e.g. 2 2 4)

All beliefs that are not rational
An alternative model of rationality (e.g. Norman
Malcolm)
rational beliefs
irrational beliefs
non-rational beliefs
beliefs within framework that are supported by
evidence or are self-evident
all new beliefs within framework
framework (groundless) beliefs (e.g. new people
have minds, the future will resemble the past,
God exists)
4
Problems for Malcolms claim that fundamental
religious beliefs are framework beliefs

• The consequences fundamental religious beliefs
  are not true, and they are the product merely of
  training.

• What is Malcolms evidence? He argues that(i)
  a religious belief is not acquired by means of
  reasoneven if so, does it follow that the
  belief cannot be rationally assessed?
• (ii) the religious believer uses God exists
  as a basic assumption in reasoningbut a belief
  that is assumed in one argument can be questioned
  in another.

• A framework belief is either (Malcolm doesnt
  make this clear)(i) a belief everyone holds as
  a framework beliefif so, the belief that God
  exists doesnt qualify

(ii) A belief anyone holds as a framework
beliefif so, any belief can be a framework
belief, and the belief that God exists may not
differ in kind from a crazy belief.
5
Pascal, Kierkegaard and Malcolm all accept that

• a belief is rational only if it is supported by
  appropriate evidence
• fundamental religious beliefs are not supported
  by appropriate evidence, and so are not rational

What does this show? To prove (2) we first have
to show that the person who has faith does not
know that God exists.

• For the religious believer, it is self-evident
  that God exists, and so the belief is rational.

• Reasons to deny that religious belief is
  self-evident
• phenomenon of atheism
• if religious belief is self-evident, any belief
  can be self-evident.
• Are these good reasons?

6
Criticisms of (1), a belief is rational only if
supported by appropriate evidence

• The belief that objects continue to exist when
  no-one is observing them is a counter-example to
  (1).

• (1) is too strong. Instead, we should say that a
  belief that p is rational only if I have
  sufficient evidence for the belief that I have
  sufficient evidence for the belief that p.

• (1) is unclear. What does support mean? What
  does self-evident mean? What does appropriate
  mean?

• There is no appropriate evidence for (1).
  Therefore, if (1) is true, I should not accept
  it. Of course, if (1) is false, I should not
  accept it. Either way, I should not accept it.

7
The traditional model of rationality (e.g. David
Hume)
rational beliefs
irrational beliefs

• beliefs supported by (and in proportion to)
  appropriate evidence
• self-evident beliefs (e.g. 2 2 4)

All beliefs that are not rational