William Alston

William Alston was a prominent philosopher known for his work in the philosophy of religion and epistemology, the study of knowledge. He explored how we can know religious truths, emphasizing the role of personal religious experience. Alston distinguished between internalism (knowledge derived from personal beliefs) and externalism (knowledge informed by external factors like community or tradition). He argued that faith can provide a justified basis for beliefs about God. Alston also contributed to theories of reference, focusing on how religious language conveys meaning. His work invites a deeper understanding of how faith and reason interact in religious contexts.