The Epistemology of Disagreement; Can Theists and Atheists Reasonably Disagree?

The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the phenomenon of disagreement from an epistemological point of view. In other words, this thesis explores how disagreement affects the rationality of our beliefs. In particular, I have focused on disagreements with respect to religious matters. One of the arguments I put forward suggests that in some circumstances, theists and atheists should regard one another as epistemic peers with respect to the topic of their disagreement. Next, I argue that evidence can be Permissive, meaning that in some cases, the body of evidence may support two different beliefs regarding a proposition. Finally, I argue that theists and atheists can reasonably retain their beliefs in the face of their disagreement over religious utterances, and can also view their dissenters as reasonable individuals despite their disagreement.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Philosophy

Grantor

University of Saskatchewan

Year dc:date.issued

2022

Author dc:creator

• Ebrahimpour, Mehdi

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Hudson, Robert

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Moore, Dwayne
• Noppen, Pierre-Francois
• Howe, Leslie
• Hrynkow, Christopher

• Disagreement
• Epistemology
• Religion

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10388/14030

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:harvest.usask.ca:10388/14030