ABSTRACT
Hume subscribes to a foundations theory. This chapter considers the charge by Wilfrid Sellars that this theory is a myth and, his criticism of an alternative foundations theory based on reliability and his defence of a coherence theory. Among the alternatives to foundationalism, the only one to receive extensive support is the appeal to circularity. Russell’s foundationalism is based on this theory. He holds that perceptual judgements are known on the basis of acquaintance with sense data. It is sometimes thought that rejecting the given implies a rejection of foundationalism. Although Sellars thinks this is ultimately right, he also suggests a way of defending the foundations theory without the given. This theory is usually called reliabilism. The standard procedure would be to keep track of one’s judgements, then compare them with reality. But, if empiricism is right, the only way to get information about reality is by perception.
