Designed for readers who have had little or no exposure to contemporary theory of knowledge, Reading Epistemology brings together twelve important and influential writings on the subject. Two contrasting views are presented on each of six core topics: the definition of knowledge, the relation between justification and truth, epistemic duties and virtues, testimonial knowledge, foundationalism versus coherentism, and scepticism and contextualism. Among the authors are Nozick, Ernest Sosa, Alvin Goldman, BonJour, Dretske, and Burge. Each chapter contains an introduction to the topic, introductions to the authors, extensive commentaries on the texts, questions for debate and an annotated bibliography. The introductions and commentaries outline the philosophical train of thought, provide background information, and locate particular positions and arguments within the field. The interactive nature of the commentaries encourages readers to engage with the texts and to think for themselves.
"Sven Bernecker's book is an excellent one for students. Theselected passages are very well chosen, and the commentaries areexplanatory, acute, interesting and well informed. By not beingover detailed or dogmatic, they will serve to stimulate criticalthought, which is very much the book's aim." Paul Snowdon,University College London
"Bernecker goes beyond the traditional anthology by combiningwell-chosen primary sources with carefully constructed commentaryon each source ... which not only help the reader make sense ofcomplex arguments and theses, but which also place the primarysources in the context of the debates and controversies from whichthey arise. Anyone who teaches epistemology will want to take aclose look at this text." Saul Traiger, OccidentalCollege
"Bernecker goes beyond the traditional anthology by combiningwell-chosen primary sources with carefully constructed commentaryon each source ... which not only help the reader make sense ofcomplex arguments and theses, but which also place the primarysources in the context of the debates and controversies from whichthey arise. Anyone who teaches epistemology will want to take aclose look at this text." Saul Traiger, OccidentalCollege