Phenomenal Conservatism and the Principle of All Principles

This paper compares and contrasts Michael Huemer’s Principle of Phenomenal Conservatism with Husserl’s well-known Principle of All Principles. Despite some similarities, I argue that the two are quite different. I examine several cases in which the theories provide different assessments of a belief’s epistemic status, and argue that Husserl’s gives the correct answer in each case. I also argue that Husserl’s theory provides an intelligible connection between the content of an experience and its seeming true. Phenomenal conservatism does not. Finally, I argue that Husserl’s theory is not a restricted version of phenomenal conservatism.