Koherentists

Koherentists are proponents of a philosophical theory of justification known as coherentism. This approach to epistemology posits that beliefs or knowledge claims are justified if they form a comprehensive, consistent, and interconnected system, rather than relying on foundational beliefs or external evidence. According to coherentism, the justification of a belief depends on its coherence with other beliefs within the entire web of knowledge.

The core idea of coherentism contrasts with foundationalism, which holds that certain basic beliefs serve as secure starting points for knowledge. Instead, coherentists argue that beliefs derive their justifications from their integration into a coherent system, where each belief supports and is supported by others. This interconnected structure aims to maximize overall consistency and explanatory power.

Historically, coherentism gained prominence in the 20th century as a response to the puzzles of foundationalism and certain regress problems in justification. Notable philosophers associated with coherentist views include Laurence BonJour and W.V.O. Quine, though perspectives vary among different thinkers. Coherentism is also influential in areas such as scientific theory assessment and epistemic networks, where the coherence of hypotheses with existing data is crucial.

Critics of coherentism raise concerns about circularity, as the system's coherence might not necessarily lead to truth but merely internal consistency. Nonetheless, coherentism remains a significant alternative in epistemological debates, emphasizing the importance of the unity and interconnectedness of beliefs for understanding justification and truth.