This chapter examines the general idea of acceptance, from an angle somewhat different from van Fraassen's. It focuses on the sort of case where the argument for acceptance rather than belief is particularly compelling, namely where the full set of claims in question are contradictory. Here, acceptance may be the only live cognitive option. Some of the different forms these contradictions may take, and some of the reasons that the proper response to some of them is acceptance are considered. The chapter concludes with some brief remarks about what the need for a strategy of acceptance tells us about our general epistemic situation.
Keywords: acceptance, Bas van Fraassen, epistmic attitude