Justificationism

A false theory of Knowledge that asserts that all ideas must be justified according to some fixed criterion or authority.

Justificationism demands a reason for believing, rather than testing ideas by trying to find reasons against them. It is the epistemological twin of Foundationalism — both seek certainty from an authoritative source rather than accepting the conjectural nature of all knowledge.

Connections

• •Paired with Foundationalism — both seek certainty
• •Refuted by Critical Rationalism — which replaces justification with Criticism
• •Related to Inductivism and Empiricism — variants of the justificationist program
• •Encourages belief over understanding
• •Axioms in foundationalism serve as justificationist bedrock
• •Proof is the justificationist ideal — unattainable in practice
• •Corroboration replaces justification in proper epistemology