An Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge - Hardcover

O'Brien, Dan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0745664318 ISBN 13: 9780745664316

Publisher: Polity, 2016

Synopsis

An Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge: Second Edition guides the reader through the key issues and debates in contemporary epistemology. Lucid, comprehensive and accessible, it is an ideal textbook for students who are new to the subject and for university undergraduates.
 
The book is divided into five parts. Part I discusses the concept of knowledge and distinguishes between different types of knowledge. Part II surveys the sources of knowledge, considering both a priori and a posteriori knowledge. Parts III and IV provide an in-depth discussion of justification and scepticism. The final part of the book examines our alleged knowledge of the past, other minds, morality and God.
 
In this extensively revised second edition there are expanded sections on epistemic luck, social epistemology and contextualism, and there are new sections on the contemporary debates concerning the lottery paradox, pragmatic encroachment, peer disagreement, safety, sensitivity and virtue epistemology.
 
Engaging examples are used throughout the book, many taken from literature and the cinema. Complex issues, such as those concerning the private language argument, non-conceptual content, and the new riddle of induction, are explained in a clear and accessible way. This textbook is an invaluable guide to contemporary epistemology.

About this title

Review:

'This is an excellent introduction to the theory of knowledge, comprehensive in scope but also accessible throughout, and written in an engaging style. Highly recommended.' Duncan Pritchard, University of Edinburgh 'It is the best book of its kind in this area available today... O'Brien has a distinctive approach, using many colourful examples and illustrations, and maintains a lively and readable style throughout, without becoming superficial. It covers a very wide range of epistemological topics, and the additions in this new edition enhance its value.' Mark Tebbit, University of Reading

About the Author:

Dan O Brien is Reader in Philosophy at Oxford Brookes University.

About this edition

• Publisher: Polity
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0745664318
• ISBN 13: 9780745664316
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 224