Nonfoundational

Nonfoundational is a term used in epistemology to describe theories of justification that reject the idea that all justified beliefs must rest on a secure, noninferential foundation. In foundationalism, some beliefs are basic and justify other beliefs; nonfoundational approaches deny that such a bedrock exists and instead seek justification within a web or structure of beliefs.

Two primary nonfoundational positions are coherentism and infinitism. Coherentism holds that a belief is justified by its coherence with a system of beliefs, meaning justification derives from how well the parts fit together rather than from a foundational base. Infinitism posits that justification arises from an endless or infinite chain of reasons, with no ultimate noninferential starting point. Some discussions also situate contextualist or other externalist strategies within the broader nonfoundational framework, though these are not uniformly treated as nonfoundational in all debates.

Nonfoundational theories aim to address issues such as the epistemic regress and the nature of justification without appealing to foundational beliefs. They are often contrasted with foundationalism and are defended on grounds that reflect how human reasoning typically operates in practice, emphasizing interrelations among beliefs and the overall coherence or justificatory chain rather than a single base. Critics, however, raise questions about whether coherence guarantees truth or knowledge, and about potential circularity or arbitrariness in selecting coherence criteria. Proponents argue that nonfoundationalism better captures the interconnected character of justification and the way rational belief typically evolves.