Evaluative Doxastic Practices: Moral Epistemology of Robert Merrihew Adams Reconsidered

Robert Adams, Inspired by William Alston's theory of doxastic practice, forms his moral epistemology and coins the term of “evaluative doxastic practice”. The inputs of evaluative doxastic practice are historical and cultural tradition, as well as feelings, emotions, inclinations and desires. These inputs accompanied with thinking about them bring about moral beliefs as outputs of evaluative doxastic practices. In Adams’ view, moral faith provides the confidence base of moral beliefs formed thorough evaluative doxastic practices. Moral faith is necessary because the moral beliefs are not above any kind of reasonable doubt, Although there are not any reasons against them.