(July 26, 2012 at 11:27 pm)Perhaps Wrote: Perhaps try to analyze your position using rationalism as opposed to trying to validate empiricism with empiricism. If you want to know why you can trust your senses as being accurate (or at least sometimes accurate), then try to not use your senses - simply reason - and see if your position still holds. Foundationalism is a strong philosophical position, in so much as it can correct and remain accountable for itself much easier than the others; however it struggles with the original basis for belief (namely self-evident truths).
As was addressed earlier, one must first determine the meaning of 'truth' and secondly assert what classifies something as being self-evident. Genkaus provided the axioms of existence to which you inferred about the objective nature of a truth claim. You've already made the assumption that truth has an objective nature - but what gives you this justification? (This I suppose brings us back to your original question about justification of fundamental beliefs.)
I don't know so much about the objective nature of truth. However, it stands to reason that without any basis in reality truth holds no meaning. Truth, by nature, is objective... Oh... Subjective?
Well, as a concept it is objective. Truth is truth, and it applies to everyone. Belief is belief, and it is personal. I don't know that humankind will ever have a grasp on truth. That is where I stand on truth's meaning.
As to using reason to verify sense perception, it seems to me that logic and reason are derived from the natural world. Why would logic offer me special insight into the truth of sense-perception?
My conclusion is that there is no reason to believe any of the dogmas of traditional theology and, further, that there is no reason to wish that they were true.
Man, in so far as he is not subject to natural forces, is free to work out his own destiny. The responsibility is his, and so is the opportunity.
-Bertrand Russell
Man, in so far as he is not subject to natural forces, is free to work out his own destiny. The responsibility is his, and so is the opportunity.
-Bertrand Russell