Philosophica 78 (2006) pp. 29-51 TESTIMONY AS EVIDENCE Sanford C. Goldberg ABSTRACT Regarding testimony as evidence fails to predict the sort of epistemic support testimony provides for testimonial belief. As a result, testimony-based belief should not be assimilated into the category of epistemically inferential, evidence-based belief. 1. Reasons, Evidence, and Inference Holmes is trying to determine who committed the murder. His evidence consists of E 1 , E 2 , and E 3 . It occurs to him that he would have these pieces of evidence only if Mustard did it. He concludes that Mustard committed the murder. Here, the basis of Holmes’ conclusion is (a) his belief that his evidence consists of E 1 , E 2 , and E 3 , (b) his belief that he would have these pieces of evidence only if Mustard committed the murder, (c) whatever it is that supports these beliefs, and (d) whatever it is that bears on Holmes’ entitlement to draw the relevant inference from (a) and (b) to the conclusion that Mustard committed the murder. Smith is suffering from some condition that she would like diagnosed. The doctor notes the manifesting symptoms, S 1 , S 2 , and S 3 . On the basis of observing these symptoms, and having good reason to think that a patient manifests S 1 , S 2 , and S 3 only if she is suffering from disease D, the doctor diagnoses Smith as suffering from D. Here, the basis of the doctor’s diagnosis is (e) his belief that Smith manifests S 1 , S 2 , and S 3 , (f) his belief that one manifests S 1 , S 2 , and S 3 only if one is suffering from disease D, (g) whatever it is that supports these beliefs, and (h) whatever it is that bears on the doctor’s entitlement to draw the