Phenomenal conservatism

In epistemology, phenomenal conservatism (PC) holds that it is reasonable to assume that things are as they appear, except when there are positive grounds for doubting this. (The term derives from the Greek word 'phainomenon', meaning 'appearance'.) In epistemology, phenomenal conservatism (PC) holds that it is reasonable to assume that things are as they appear, except when there are positive grounds for doubting this. (The term derives from the Greek word 'phainomenon', meaning 'appearance'.) The principle was initially defended by Michael Huemer in Huemer 2001, where it was formulated as follows: