Coady’s Causal Theory of Testimony

Coady’s Causal Theory of Testimony suggests that when we trust what someone tells us, our belief is justified if the speaker's words causally contribute to our believing it. Essentially, if the speaker's intention and manner of communicating create a reliable link—like an effective cause—between their statement and our understanding, then our acceptance is justified. This theory emphasizes the importance of the speaker’s sincerity and the proper functioning of communication in establishing justified beliefs through testimony, rather than merely relying on the content itself or the speaker’s authority.