TY - JOUR
T1 - Can Fictionalists Have Faith?
AU - Malcolm, Finlay
N1 - This article has been published in a revised form in Religioius Studies,
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0034412517000063.
This version is free to view and download for private research and study only. Not for re-distribution, re-sale or use in derivative works. © 2016 Cambridge University Press.
PY - 2018/6/30
Y1 - 2018/6/30
N2 - According to non-doxastic theories of propositional faith, belief that p is not necessary for faith that p. Rather, propositional faith merely requires a 'positive cognitive attitude'. This broad condition, however, can be satisfied by several pragmatic approaches to a domain, including fictionalism. This article shows precisely how fictionalists can have faith given non-doxastic theory, and explains why this is problematic. It then explores one means of separating the two theories, in virtue of the fact that the truth of the propositions in a discourse is of little consequence for fictionalists, whereas their truth matters deeply for the faithful. Although promising, this approach incurs several theoretical costs, hence providing a compelling reason to favour a purely doxastic account of faith.
AB - According to non-doxastic theories of propositional faith, belief that p is not necessary for faith that p. Rather, propositional faith merely requires a 'positive cognitive attitude'. This broad condition, however, can be satisfied by several pragmatic approaches to a domain, including fictionalism. This article shows precisely how fictionalists can have faith given non-doxastic theory, and explains why this is problematic. It then explores one means of separating the two theories, in virtue of the fact that the truth of the propositions in a discourse is of little consequence for fictionalists, whereas their truth matters deeply for the faithful. Although promising, this approach incurs several theoretical costs, hence providing a compelling reason to favour a purely doxastic account of faith.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85015087110&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S0034412517000063
DO - 10.1017/S0034412517000063
M3 - Article
SN - 0034-4125
VL - 54
SP - 215
EP - 232
JO - Religious Studies
JF - Religious Studies
IS - 2
ER -