Reading Epistemology Selected Texts with Interactive Commentary

by Bernecker, Sven

• ISBN13: 9781405127639
• ISBN10: 1405127635
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-01-30
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

Designed for readers who have had little or no exposure to contemporary theory of knowledge, Reading Epistemology brings together twelve important and influential writings on the subject. Two contrasting views are presented on each of six core topics: the definition of knowledge, the relation between justification and truth, epistemic duties and virtues, testimonial knowledge, foundationalism versus coherentism, and scepticism and contextualism. Among the authors are Nozick, Ernest Sosa, Alvin Goldman, BonJour, Dretske, and Burge. Each chapter contains an introduction to the topic, introductions to the authors, extensive commentaries on the texts, questions for debate and an annotated bibliography. The introductions and commentaries outline the philosophical train of thought, provide background information, and locate particular positions and arguments within the field. The interactive nature of the commentaries encourages readers to engage with the texts and to think for themselves.

Author Biography

Sven Bernecker is Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Manchester and Privatdozent for Philosophy at the University of Munich. He has written on epistemology, metaphysics and philosophy of mind and is co-editor with Fred Dretske of Knowledge: Readings in Contemporary Epistemology (2000).

Table of Contents

Preface	p. viii
Sources and Acknowledgements	p. ix
Introduction	p. 1
Defining Knowledge	p. 4
Introduction to the Problem	p. 4
Introduction to Pollock	p. 7
'The Gettier Problem'	p. 8
Commentary on Pollock	p. 11
Introduction to Nozick	p. 14
'Conditions for Knowledge'	p. 15
Commentary on Nozick	p. 21
Justification and Truth	p. 27
Introduction to the Problem	p. 27
Introduction to Goldman	p. 30
'What is Justified Belief?'	p. 31
Commentary on Goldman	p. 41
Introduction to Foley	p. 44
'What's Wrong with Reliabilism?'	p. 44
Commentary on Foley	p. 53
Duties and Virtues	p. 57
Introduction to the Problem	p. 57
Introduction to Steup	p. 60
'A Defense of Internalism'	p. 60
Commentary on Steup	p. 75
Introduction to Sosa	p. 80
'Reliabilism and Intellectual Virtue'	p. 80
Commentary on Sosa	p. 89
Knowledge by Hearsay	p. 93
Introduction to the Problem	p. 93
Introduction to Fricker	p. 95
'Against Gullibility'	p. 95
Commentary on Fricker	p. 107
Introduction to Burge	p. 109
'Content Preservation'	p. 110
Commentary on Burge	p. 119
Foundations or Coherence?	p. 122
Introduction to the Problem	p. 122
Introduction to Alston	p. 124
'Two Types of Foundationalism'	p. 125
Commentary on Alston	p. 135
Introduction to BonJour	p. 139
'The Coherence Theory of Empirical Knowledge'	p. 139
Commentary on BonJour	p. 150
Scepticism in Context	p. 156
Introduction to the Problem	p. 156
Introduction to Dretske	p. 159
'The Pragmatic Dimension of Knowledge'	p. 159
Commentary on Dretske	p. 169
Introduction to Williams	p. 173
'Realism and Scepticism'	p. 174
Commentary on Williams	p. 182
Essay/Examination Questions	p. 186
Further Reading	p. 188
Index	p. 194
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