Externalism
Externalism is a philosophical view that suggests our thoughts and knowledge are not just shaped by our internal mental states, but also by external factors, such as our environment and social interactions. In the context of coherentism, it emphasizes that belief systems gain justification through their relationships with other beliefs within a broader context, rather than solely from internal consistency. Similarly, the extended mind theory posits that our minds extend beyond our brains, incorporating tools and social inputs as integral to our cognitive processes, suggesting that understanding and reasoning are shared across our interactions with the world around us.
Additional Insights
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Externalism, in the context of general knowledge, is the idea that what we know and how we know it can depend on external factors outside our individual minds. This means that our beliefs and knowledge aren't just determined by our personal thoughts, but also by our environment, relationships, and social context. For instance, we accept information from trusted sources, like experts or institutions, which shapes our understanding. Thus, knowledge is seen as a collective process, influenced by interactions with the world and others, rather than being entirely self-contained within each individual.