The Pragmatic Encroachment Thesis

The Pragmatic Encroachment Thesis suggests that whether we should believe or doubt a claim depends not only on the evidence but also on practical factors like the stakes involved. In other words, if believing or doubting a proposition has significant real-world consequences, this can influence how justified our belief is—so higher stakes might require stronger evidence to justify belief, whereas lower stakes allow for belief with less evidence. This idea highlights that practical considerations, not just evidence, can affect the epistemic status of our beliefs.