On Two Non-Justificationist Theories

Abstract

Non-justificationism or fallibilism is now generally thought of as merely the view that no theory can be shown to be true, yet we can progress. It is a new and somewhat optimistic skepticism. The development of theories of this type has lead to new standards of argument, problem solving, and success which have ofttimes been obscured in the ongoing battle with justificationists. We would like here to briefly describe two of these techniques which lead non-justificationists in opposite directions. The two positions are not held by separate thinkers. Both moves are used together by many theorists. Perhaps they are invented by Popper, though individual philosophies do not concern us here. The two moves run counter to each other, and we have no theory of them.