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What is this thing called Knowledge?

2nd Edition

By Duncan Pritchard, Duncan Pritchard

Published September 22nd 2009 by Routledge – 200 pages

Series: What is this thing called?

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Description

What is Knowledge? Where does it come from? Can we know anything at all? This lucid and engaging introduction grapples with these central questions in the theory of knowledge, offering a clear, non-partisan view of the main themes of epistemology including recent developments such as virtue epistemology and contextualism.

Duncan Pritchard discusses traditional issues and contemporary ideas in thirteen easily digestible sections, including:

  • the value of knowledge
  • the structure of knowledge
  • virtues and faculties
  • perception
  • testimony and memory
  • induction
  • scepticism.

What is this thing called Knowledge? contains many helpful student-friendly features including study questions, annotated further reading, a glossary and a guide to web resources. Clear and interesting examples are used throughout. This is an ideal first textbook in the theory of knowledge for undergraduates taking a first course in philosophy.

Reviews

'A valuable addition … A book that sets things out in a clear and elementary way, while still covering the ground properly.' – Finn Spicer, University of Bristol, UK

'Clearly laid out, well organized and written by a true expert.' – Michael Lynch, University of Connecticut, USA

Contents

Part 1: What is Knowledge? 1. Some Preliminaries 2. The Value of Knowledge 3. Defining Knowledge 4. The Structure of Knowledge 5. Rationality 6. Virtues and Faculties Part 2: Where Does Knowledge Come From? 7. Perception 8. Testimony and Memory 9. A Priority and Inference 10. The Problem of Induction Part 3: Do We Know Anything At All? 11. Scepticism about Other Minds 12. Radical Scepticism 13. Truth and Objectivity. General Further Reading. Glossary. Index

Author Bio

Duncan Pritchard is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Stirling, UK.

Name: What is this thing called Knowledge?: 2nd Edition (Paperback) – Routledge 
Description: By Duncan Pritchard, Duncan Pritchard. What is Knowledge? Where does it come from? Can we know anything at all? This lucid and engaging introduction grapples with these central questions in the theory of knowledge, offering a clear, non-partisan view of the main themes of epistemology...
Categories: Introductory Philosophy, Epistemology