Epistemology: A Beginner's Guide

by Robert M. Martin

Overview

How do you know what you know?

Epistemology is the philosophical study of knowledge. Without knowledge, scientific enquiry is meaningless and we can’t begin to analyse the world around us. What is knowledge? How do you know you are not dreaming? Should we trust our senses? Presuming no prior experience of philosophy, this book covers everything in the topic from scepticism and possible worlds to Kant’s transcendentalism. Clear and readable, Epistemology: A Beginner’s Guide is essential reading for students and aspiring thinkers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781851687329
Publisher:	Oneworld Publications
Publication date:	07/01/2010
Series:	Beginner's Guides
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.70(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Robert M. Martin is Professor of Philosophy at Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia in Canada. He has authored several books on philosophy, including The Philosopher's Dictionary.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments viii

Introduction ix

1 Defining 'knowledge' 1

2 Strength of belief and evidence 10

3 Justification and Gettier problems 22

4 Internalism, externalism, and justification 36

5 Foundationalism and coherentism 62

6 A priori knowledge, analyticity, and necessity 79

7 Knowledge based on sense-experience 108

8 Scepticism 126

9 New approaches to epistemology 146

Further reading 163

Index 175

Editorial Reviews

"Well informed, user friendly, engaging, interesting and stimulating."

UCL Paul Snowdon - Head of Department of Philosophy

"Very clear and accessible. Ideal for anyone new to epistemology."

University of Edinburgh Duncan Pritchard - Chair in Epistemology in the Department of Philosophy