Knowledge in an Uncertain World

Matthew McGrath author Jeremy Fantl author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Oxford University Press

Published:5th Nov '09

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

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Knowledge in an Uncertain World cover

Knowledge in an Uncertain World is an exploration of the relation between knowledge, reasons, and justification. According to the primary argument of the book, you can rely on what you know in action and belief, because what you know can be a reason you have and you can rely on the reasons you have. If knowledge doesn't allow for a chance of error, then this result is unsurprising. But if knowledge does allow for a chance of error - as seems required if we know much of anything at all - this result entails the denial of a received position in epistemology. Because any chance of error, if the stakes are high enough, can make a difference to what can be relied on, two subjects with the same evidence and generally the same strength of epistemic position for a proposition can differ with respect to whether they are in a position to know. In defending these points, Fantl and McGrath investigate the ramifications for debates about epistemological externalism and contextualism, the value and importance of knowledge, Wittgensteinian hinge propositions, Bayesianism, and the nature of belief. The book is essential reading for epistemologists, philosophers who work on reasons and rationality, philosophers of language and mind, and decision theorists.

filled with interesting and original arguments about the nature and possibility of knowledge... working through the puzzles having to do with the relations between knowledge, justification, and reasons for belief and action has been a great deal of fun. I cannot recall enjoying a book as much as I've enjoyed Knowledge in an Uncertain World. * Clayton Littlejohn, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *

ISBN: 9780199550623

Dimensions: 241mm x 162mm x 22mm

Weight: 560g

262 pages