Normativity and Factuality: The Double Aspect of the Concept of Justification. Reply to Penelas and Satne

Abstract

This paper responds to Penelas’ and Satne’s criticisms to a previous paper of mine. Here I try to point out some inconsistencies of ethnocentrism as a theory of justification and I intent to make compatible the historical character of criteria of justification with its universality. If we retain the normative character of the concept of justification, we can affirm that the validity of the justification and of the standards of justification is universal while, at the same time, recognize their particularity by pointing out that they emerge from a specific community in a particular historical moment. This outlook explains how cognitive progress and fallibilism are possible, and how we can reform our standards of justification.