Publishing, Belief, and Self-Trust

Abstract This paper offers a defense of ‘publishing without belief’ (PWB) – the view that authors are not required to believe what they publish. I address objections ranging from outright denial and advocacy belief norm for publication, modified version allows some cases PWB but others. reject these modifications. In doing so, offer both an alternative story about motivations diagnosis disagreement over its permissibility. The original focused on consequentialist reasons allowing PWB, offering mostly defensive arguments against potential criticisms. But argue once we shift our focus why might be prone see difference in two types motivation: whereas imagine as arising underconfident agents, critics point cagey or nefarious authorial practices, authors’ failure clarify their own degrees belief. Underlying debate norms philosophical publishing, find different conceptions philosophy itself.