A Defense of Ignorance: Its Value for Knowers and Roles in Feminist and Social Epistemologies
A Defense of Ignorance develops new ideas in feminist epistemology by exploring diverse and sometimes positive roles for ignorance. Cynthia Townley argues that epistemic values cannot simply be reduced to the value of increasing knowledge and that ignorance is not merely inescapable for epistemic agents, but, rather, is valuable. Townley shows that ignorance-friendly epistemology offers a better descriptive and normative account of human epistemic practices. This interpretation challenges the traditional assumption that increasing knowledge is the definitive epistemic goal. The book makes a major contribution to revisionary epistemology and to the expanding fields of social epistemology and feminist epistemology. All social scientists stand to benefit from Townley's analysis, most of all those interested in knowledge and in feminist scholarship.
1111376360
A Defense of Ignorance: Its Value for Knowers and Roles in Feminist and Social Epistemologies
A Defense of Ignorance develops new ideas in feminist epistemology by exploring diverse and sometimes positive roles for ignorance. Cynthia Townley argues that epistemic values cannot simply be reduced to the value of increasing knowledge and that ignorance is not merely inescapable for epistemic agents, but, rather, is valuable. Townley shows that ignorance-friendly epistemology offers a better descriptive and normative account of human epistemic practices. This interpretation challenges the traditional assumption that increasing knowledge is the definitive epistemic goal. The book makes a major contribution to revisionary epistemology and to the expanding fields of social epistemology and feminist epistemology. All social scientists stand to benefit from Townley's analysis, most of all those interested in knowledge and in feminist scholarship.
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A Defense of Ignorance: Its Value for Knowers and Roles in Feminist and Social Epistemologies

A Defense of Ignorance: Its Value for Knowers and Roles in Feminist and Social Epistemologies

by Cynthia Townley
A Defense of Ignorance: Its Value for Knowers and Roles in Feminist and Social Epistemologies

A Defense of Ignorance: Its Value for Knowers and Roles in Feminist and Social Epistemologies

by Cynthia Townley

Hardcover

$114.00 
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Overview

A Defense of Ignorance develops new ideas in feminist epistemology by exploring diverse and sometimes positive roles for ignorance. Cynthia Townley argues that epistemic values cannot simply be reduced to the value of increasing knowledge and that ignorance is not merely inescapable for epistemic agents, but, rather, is valuable. Townley shows that ignorance-friendly epistemology offers a better descriptive and normative account of human epistemic practices. This interpretation challenges the traditional assumption that increasing knowledge is the definitive epistemic goal. The book makes a major contribution to revisionary epistemology and to the expanding fields of social epistemology and feminist epistemology. All social scientists stand to benefit from Townley's analysis, most of all those interested in knowledge and in feminist scholarship.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780739151051
Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date: 08/11/2011
Pages: 152
Product dimensions: 6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Cynthia Townley is lecturer of philosophy at Macquarie University.

Table of Contents

Preface vii

Introduction: Ignorance Matters ix

1 Epistemic Dependence: Beyond Facts 1

2 Ignorance and the Interdependence of Epistemic Agents 23

3 Institutional Epistemic Dependence 55

4 Ignorance, Arrogance, and Pluralism 87

Conclusion 113

Bibliography 117

Index 123

About the Author 127

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