ABSTRACT
We spend a great part of our time formulating value statements. Value statements are more problematic than factual statements. The fideist and skeptical conclusions that are often derived from Munchhausen's trilemma makes it difficult to understand that certain scientific statements are considered as definitely true. People can also of course draw from Munchhausen's trilemma a skeptical theory of scientific knowledge. Munchhausen's trilemma seems to have been taken more literally by theoreticians of norms and values. Even if they do not refer explicitly to it, many theoreticians of norms and values draw from it the conclusion that axiological beliefs can rest exclusively either on faith or on sand. "Causalist" theories represent another solution out of Munchhausen's trilemma. According to these theories, the ultimate principles on which beliefs, and particularly normative beliefs, rest are generated by "material" causes. Utilitarian theories of normative beliefs represent a first and important illustration of these rational theories of normative beliefs.
