The Theory of Proper Function about Warrant

Epistemology has, for the 20th century, been one of the controversial and important issues of philosophy. A turning point originated by Kant in the history of philosophy, went to assume a tranquil movement under such epistemological views as traditional fundamentalism and epistemological Internalism when Edmond Gettier's three page essay "Is knowledge the true justified belief?" came to stir this tranquility. It can definitely be said that this short essay was regarded by all those who came afterwards. In this essay, Gettier has challenged the epistemologist's threefold definition of knowledge through a few examples. It became one of the functions of epistemology, after Gettier, to answer his objections. From among its a few motives, it can be said that, the proper function theory on warrant (the third element of knowledge) has been proposed to respond Gettier's objections. This theory belongs to Alvin Plantinga, the great and famous philosopher of religion in 20th century. In this article, we have tried to give a short account of this theory so that those interested can have some sound understanding of it.