The Profound Limitations of Knowledge

by Fred Leavitt, Paolo Palmieri (Editor)

Overview

The Profound Limitations of Knowledge explores the limitations of knowledge and argues that neither reasoning nor direct or indirect observations can be trusted. We cannot even assign probabilities to claims of what we can know. Furthermore, for any set of data, there are an infinite number of possible interpretations. Evidence suggests that we live in a participatory universe—that is, our observations shape reality.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781433154539
Publisher:	Peter Lang Inc., International Academic Publishers
Publication date:	08/31/2018
Series:	History and Philosophy of Science , #7
Edition description:	New
Pages:	220
Product dimensions:	5.91(w) x 8.86(h) x (d)

About the Author

Fred Leavitt received a Ph.D. in psychopharmacology from the University of Michigan. He did postdoctoral work at UC Berkeley and served on the faculty at California State University, East Bay for forty-three years. He gives occasional talks to medical doctors for their continuing medical education requirements.

Table of Contents

List of Figures – Introduction – Beliefs – Philosophy – Certainty, Likelihood, and Probability – The Four Supposed Pillars of Knowledge – Pillar 1: A Priori Knowledge – Pillar 2: Religious Faith – Leavitt Lied – Pillar 3: Reasoning – Reason and Science in Opposition – Pillar 4: Empiricism – Reason and Science in Almost One Voice – Inferences Part II – Recapitulation – Reasons for Resistance – Conclusions – Epilogue – Appendix 1: Beliefs About the Future by Experts – Appendix 2: History Myths – Appendix 3: Scientific Facts and Theories That Were Once Believed but Are Now Considered False – Index.