| Knowledge and Belief Contributor(s): Schmitt, Frederick F. (Author) |
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ISBN: 0415033179 ISBN-13: 9780415033176 Publisher: Routledge OUR PRICE: $152.00 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: March 1992 Annotation: In "Knowledge and Belief," Frederick Schmitt explores the nature and value of knowledge and justified belief through an examination of the dispute between epistemological internalism and externalism. Knowledge and justified belief are naturally viewed as belief of a sort likely to be true--an externalist view. It is also intuitive, however, to view them as an internal matter; justification must be accessible to the subject or constituted by the subject's epistemic perspective. The author argues against the view that internalism is the historically dominant epistemology by examining closely the epistemological principles that underlie the treatment of skepticism in Plato, the Academic and Pyrrhonian skeptics, Descartes and Hume. Schmitt develops a sustained, detailed argument against many forms of internalism in favor of a reliabilist/externalist epistemology. His version of reliabilism, though strictly externalist, accommodates and explains the most durable intuitions alleged to support internalism. "Knowledge and Belief" assumes no knowledge of epistemology or its history. Readers of philosophy will find this an excellent introduction to ancient and modern epistemology; this systematic study of the internalist and externalist debate is the first of its kind. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Philosophy | Epistemology |
| Dewey: 121.6 |
| LCCN: 91030982 |
| Lexile Measure: 1460 |
| Series: Problems of Philosophy |
| Physical Information: 0.81" H x 5.5" W x 8.5" (1.14 lbs) 288 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Knowledge, from Plato onwards, has been considered in relation to justified belief. Current debate has centred around the nature of the justification and whether justified belief can be considered an internal or extenal matter. Epistemological internalists argue that the subject must be able to reflect upon a belief to complete the process of justification. The externalists, on the other hand, claim that it is only necessary to consider whether the belief is reliably formed, and argue that the ability to know by reflection is not required for a justified belief. In the historical section of this book the three most important epistemologists, Plato, Descartes and Hume, as well as the ancient epistemologies of the stoics, Academics and Pyrhonians, are considered. In reconsidering the history of epistemology the author is led to argue against hte view that internalism is historically dominant. His critique of internalism is then developed into a sustained argument against many of its forms, and he goes onto defend an externalist, reliabilist epistemology. |