Rationality and worldview

This chapter argues against the view that there is a particular set of worldview beliefs that is uniquely privileged when it comes to rationality and support by cogent arguments. The chapter begins with a simple model in which two competing worldviews are consistent and coherent, and neither has an advantage over the other with respect to rationality and support by cogent arguments. It is argued that the removal of simplifying assumptions—or equivalently, the addition of further constraints—does nothing to defeat the view that competing worldviews are on a par when it comes to rationality and support by cogent arguments. It is then argued that widening our focus does nothing to defeat the view that our best competing worldviews are on a par when it comes to rationality and support by cogent arguments. Finally, considerations about the assessment of competing worldviews suggests that we have pretty good reason to suppose that best competing worldviews actually are on a par when it comes to rationality and support by cogent arguments.