Knowledge and justification: the origin of the debate between internalism and externalism

Abstract

The present article aims at clarifying what is in the debate between knowledge and justification, clarification that is important for the understanding of the key problem of contemporary epistemology. In order to do so we go through some of the contemporary conceptions to minimally understand the scenario in which the theories of rational belief compete. Our goal is to analyze some arguments from the proposals brought by epistemologists who are against or for the separation between knowledge and justification or rationality. Last, but not least, we wondered whether or not it would be possible to refute skepticism as an epistemic attitude. We chose Foley’s alternative: it is not possible to refute, it is only possible to live with skepticism as if it were part of the human condition. And, in order to get to know something we must hope the world to cooperate.

Keywords: knowledge, justification, internalism, externalism.