Group Belief

Abstract

Abstract In this chapter, I defend a non-summative functionalist account of group belief which fits with the non-summative account of group evidence and group belief for a reason defended in the previous chapters. Adopting functionalism about group belief enables us to provide a unified account of individual and group belief. Since functionalism treats group belief as a causally effective state, it fits with the causal approach to what it is for a group to believe/act for a reason defended in Chapters 3 and 6. Furthermore, unlike a popular rival non-summative account—the joint commitment account—it doesn’t make belief voluntary and insensitive to evidence. In addition, I argue that, contra Lackey, it doesn’t face problems from considerations relating to base-fragility, judgement-fragility, and group lies and bullshit.