TY - JOUR AU - Thompson, James Robert PY - 2017/02/15 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - Believe It or Not: On Multiplying Classes of Belief-like States JF - Studia Philosophica Estonica JA - SPE VL - 9 IS - 1 SE - Articles DO - 10.12697/spe.2016.9.1.04 UR - https://ojs.utlib.ee/index.php/spe/article/view/14473 SP - 79-110 AB - <p>This paper explores whether it is justified to add any new taxa concerning informational states to our psychological taxonomy. Such exploration will not lead to a straightforward decision between remaining steadfast with the taxonomic <em>status quo</em> and adding only one new taxon. A careful analysis of when one would be warranted in positing a new taxon for informational states will reveal similarly compelling reasons to posit all sorts of additional taxa. As an antidote to such proliferation, I suggest a reinforcement of traditional taxonomies of the mental by allowing belief and a range of extant taxa to play their requisite explanatory roles, thereby obviating the need for the postulation of any novel taxa.</p> ER -