conscientious as they ought to be, then they wouldn’t believe these claims. Are people who hold such beliefs irrational? If so, on what basis do we make such judgments? As we shall see, it’s more difficult than you may think to state general principles for believing that would show persons holding the above beliefs to be intellectually irresponsible. Our passional natures and the causes to which we devote ourselves may also cause us to confront epistemological questions. Suppose you have a passion