Evidence and inquiry : towards reconstruction in epistemology

This work provides an introduction to contemporary epistemology. Haack discusses and criticizes the views of a range of contemporary philosophers - Sir Karl Popper, W.V.O. Quine, Richard Rorty, Alvin Goldman, and Paul and Patricia Churchland, among others. Haack proposes original solutions to the problems of epistemology, examining the failures of traditional foundationalist and coherence accounts and setting out to achieve a satisfying synthesis of the legitimate elements in both. 1. Foundationalism Versus Coherentism: A Dichotomy Disclaimed -- 2. Foundationalism Undermined -- 3. Coherentism Discomposed -- 4. Foundherentism Articulated -- 5. The Evidence Of The Senses: Refutations And Conjectures -- 6. Naturalism Disambiguated -- 7. The Evidence Against Reliabilism -- 8. Revolutionary Scientism Subverted -- 9. Vulgar Pragmatism: An Unedifying Prospect -- 10. Foundherentism Ratified. Susan Haack. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [235]-244) And Index. In this important new work, Haack develops an original theory of empirical evidence or justification, and argues its appropriateness to the goals of inquiry. In so doing, Haack provides detailed critical case studies of Lewis's foundationalism; Davidson's and Bonjour's coherentism; Popper's 'epistemology without a knowing subject'; Quine's naturalism; Goldman's reliabilism; and Rorty's, Stich's, and the Churchlands' recent obituaries of epistemology. "Once upon a time - not so long ago, in fact - the legitimacy of epistemology was undisputed, the importance to epistemology of such concepts as evidence, reasons, warrant, justification was taken for granted, and the question of the relative merits of foun" An introduction to contemporary epistemology, which discusses and criticizes the views of a range of contemporary philosophers - Sir Karl Popper, W.V.O. Quine, Richard Rorty, Alvin Goldman, and Paul and Patricia Churchland, among others.