Externalist Epistemology

Externalist epistemology is a view in philosophy of knowledge that emphasizes the importance of external factors—like how reliable a belief-forming process is—rather than just what someone internally thinks or knows. According to this view, a belief counts as justified or true if it results from mechanisms that are generally trustworthy, even if the individual isn’t aware of this. In essence, externalism focuses on the environment and external conditions that contribute to knowledge, rather than solely on internal mental states or reasoning processes.