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Title: Epistemology: A Contemporary Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge (Routledge Contemporary Introductionsto Philosophy, 2) by Robert Audi ISBN: 0-415-13043-3 Publisher: Routledge Pub. Date: February, 1998 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 (4 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Great Intro by One of Today's Top Epistemologists
Comment: Robert Audi presents a clear and well thought-out introduction to epistemology. Audi begins the epistemological project different than many other epistemologists. He is what is called an epistemological particularist, which is why his book is composed of sections concerning the sources of knowledge first, rather than beginning with either some method (e.g. Hume's empiricism), or a reply to skepticism.
Personally, I hate Audi's writing style; but it is filled with lots of great information and examples that clarify what each of the positions, problems, and answers are. Note that I provide Audi a five-star rating despite my rejection of his style.
There are some things that the reader should be aware of before reading his book. Firstly, Audi's analysis of perception is different from the traditional analysis. There are pros and cons to this. Audi provides three forms of "seeing:" (a) simple seeing, (b) seeing that, and (c) seeing to be. Traditionally, it has been: (a) simple seeing, (b) seeing as, and (c) seeing that. Audi does have a seeing as, but it is not the same as the traditional analysis. Unfortunately, Audi never notes this. Remember, his book is an introduction (even though it has lots of info and is really an intermediate leveled book); it is not something that should cover every single position and view.
Over all, Audi covers the typical debates well. I was pleased to read him on the foundationalism/coherency issue. He also includes interesting chapters on skepticism and moral/scientific/religious knowledge. On a personal note, I disagreed with Audi quite a bit (though I agreed a lot too). But I think Audi has thought through these issues really well and there is much to learn from him regardless of what you already believe, or think you know.
This book can be read by a lay person (starting at around age 17 or 18 unless you are a genius); but it will take some time to read through. It is helpful to read his chapters twice, despite it being a tedious and perhaps scary task. But it would be well worth it. Buy this book.
Rating: 3
Summary: Too easy to get lost
Comment: I used this book as part of a graduate level epistemology course. The class consensus was that it was too detailed which made it hard to stay focused on the main points of the various arguments. I would not recommend this book, as a whole, to the lay reader, but some chapters are suitble. All in all, it is a good source book for identifying the issues in epistemology.
Rating: 5
Summary: Difficult but rewarding
Comment: Since I am neither philosopher nor student of philosophy, I am not qualified to comment on this book for those perspectives. I am at best an interested and educated layman who read it without benefit of teacher or class, and so I shall address the work from that persective, which may be useful to others similarly situated.
Professor Audi here presents theories of knowledge organized by sources and structure, rather that historically by the philosophers who espoused them. No matter that Hume said this or Descartes that: the focus is on major concepts and ideas. Since my interest was in ideas themselves rather than the history of their development, I found this approach congenial.
Although Professor Audi writes with admirable clarity, I cannot pretend that I understood the work in its entirety, a reflection of my own limitations, surely not his. And yet I think I profited from the struggle. I appreciate now as never before the inextricability of philosophy and human mental and sensory process, the ambiguities of knowing and the relationship between knowing and justified belief, the elusiveness of certainty, the seductiveness of experience, and the complex character of scientific and moral (and religious) beliefs.
Within an academic setting, I suspect this would be an excellent basic text. If, like me, you are not a specialist and are interested in the subject of epistemology outside a formal academic setting, I would recommend this book only if you are tenacious, highly motivated, and willing to read and re-read slowly. It is not for the impatient reader looking for instant enlightenment.
In sum, this is a book whose rewards can be great for the determined reader.
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Title: A Companion to Epistemology (Blackwell Companions to Philosophy) by Jonathan Dancy, Ernest Sosa ISBN: 0631192581 Publisher: Blackwell Publishers Pub. Date: January, 1994 List Price(USD): $34.95 |
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Title: The Existence of God by Richard. Swinburne ISBN: 0198239637 Publisher: Clarendon Pr Pub. Date: May, 1991 List Price(USD): $41.95 |
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Title: Warranted Christian Belief by Alvin Plantinga ISBN: 0195131932 Publisher: Oxford University Press Pub. Date: May, 2000 List Price(USD): $27.50 |
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