Epistemic Justification: Essays in the Theory of Knowledge - Softcover

Alston, William P.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 080149544X ISBN 13: 9780801495441

Publisher: Cornell University Press, 1989

Synopsis

Epistemic Justification collects twelve distinguished and influential essays in epistemology by William P. Alston taken from a body of work spanning almost two decades. They represent the gradual development of Alston's thought in epistemology.He concentrates on topics that are central to contemporary epistemology and provides a much-needed and useful map to these issues be explicitly distinguishing and interrelating concepts of justification used in epistemology. More important, he develops and defends his own distinctive epistemic view throughout the volume. Notably, he argues for an account of justification that combines both internalist and externalist features. In addition, he discusses various forms of foundationalism and supports a moderate form. Finally, Alston demonstrates that the epistemic circularity that often plagues our attempts to validate our basic sources of belief does not prevent our showing that they are reliable sources of knowledge.

About this title

About the Author

The late William P. Alston was Professor of Philosophy Emeritus at Syracuse University. His books include A Realist Conception of Truth, Illocutionary Acts and Sentence Meanings, The Reliability of Sense Perception, and Perceiving God: The Epistemology of Religious Experience, all from Cornell.

Review

"Each of the essays in this book bears the mark of Alston's master craftsmanship as an analytic philosopher; they are models of clarity, careful argumentation, and attention to distinctions overlooked by others."―Philosophical Quarterly

"William P. Alston has been at the forefront of epistemology for the last twenty years. He has made significant contributions to almost every important debate to be found in the literature during that time. A number of his early papers have already become classics, and several of his later papers are well on their way to this status. This collection is long overdue."―Richard Foley, University of Notre Dame

"William P. Alston is one of a handful of people who have helped define the field of epistemology over the past decade or more. Nobody working in the field ca afford to ignore his views."―George S. Pappas, The Ohio State University

Edition details

• Publisher: Cornell University Press
• Publication date: 1989
• ISBN 10: 080149544X
• ISBN 13: 9780801495441
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 368