The Internalism-Externalism Debate

The Internalism-Externalism debate in epistemology concerns the sources of justification for our beliefs and knowledge. Internalism argues that the justification for what we know should come from within a person’s mental states, such as their thoughts and beliefs. In contrast, Externalism holds that factors outside one's immediate awareness, like the environment or the reliability of the knowledge source, can also justify beliefs. The debate centers around whether knowing something relies solely on personal introspection or if it can depend on external conditions and context. This discussion impacts how we understand knowledge and belief formation.