Fallibilism

Thinking hardly or hardly thinking? Philosophy

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Fallibilism in epistemology is the belief that something can be accepted as true despite lacking irrefutable justification. The term was coined by Charles Sanders Peirce. In some contexts, it may be used to describe the position that knowledge may turn out to be false. Fallibilism was influential to the likes of Karl Popper and Imre Lakatos.

Fallibilism can be understood as addressing the problem of infinite regress. Whenever trying to ascertain the truth, we may always find ourselves in a cycle of asking "why?", the so-called infinite regress. Fallibilism integrates this issue by arguing that all knowledge is uncertain because of the potential for this regress. Rather than rejecting knowledge on these grounds, it accepts the regress as present while still making room for claims to truth. Fallibilism is not the belief that valid knowledge does not require justification. Rather, it's the belief that valid knowledge won't and can't be totally and absolutely justified.

See also

• Münchhausen Trilemma
• Falsifiability

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