Abstract: This talk concerns the role of commitments in practical and epistemic life. I explain when and why it can be rational to commit to acting on a claim, and to stick with this commitment, even in the face of evidence against the claim. I then apply this view of commitments to two recent questions in epistemology. The first is how to explain the phenomenon of traditions or paradigms in scientific, religious, and moral life, and the phenomenon of conversion from one tradition to another. The second is whether it can ever be rational to defer to an authority rather than our own reason.

This lecture will be offered as a hybrid event. For those who cannot attend in person, the Zoom meeting link is:

https://princeton.zoom.us/j/98955692276  Meeting ID: 989 5569 2276