Epistemic Trust and Epistemic Conflict

Abstract

In this paper I argue that the natural desire for truth makes epistemic self-trust a rational requirement, and there are grounds for trust in many of my emotional dispositions that parallel the grounds for trust in my epistemic faculties. I then argue that both epistemic self-trust and trust in my emotion of admiration commit me to trusting others. It appears that I am committed to a principle of trust according to which any reason I have for epistemic trust in myself is a reason that applies to many other people and I have no reason to think of myself as epistemically privileged. How then should I handle conflict between my own beliefs and the beliefs of persons I trust? I argue that since the conflict is generated from trust in the principle of trust, it is rational to resolve conflict in favor of what I trust the most upon reflection.