Evidence and Inquiry: A Pragmatist Reconstruction of Epistemology (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781591026891)

Described by Hilary Putnam as "both a fine introduction and a significant contribution" to epistemology, and by Anthony Quinton as "at once comprehensive ... and judicious," Evidence and Inquiry is unique both in its scope and in its originality. C. I. Lewis's foundationalism, BonJour's and Davidson's coherentism, Popper's critical rationalism, Quine's naturalism, and Rorty's, Stich's, and Churchland's anti-epistemological neopragmatism all come under Haack's uniquely thorough critical scrutiny. Core epistemological questions about the nature of belief, the character and structure of evidence, the determinants of evidential quality, the relation of justification, probability, and truth, among others, are given refreshingly novel, and reasonable, answers.Most books in epistemology are written only for other epistemologists. But Evidence and Inquiry has proven of interest not only to specialists but also to many other readers, from thoughtful scientists to thoughtful scholars of law and literature.This new, expanded edition-with a substantial new foreword and several additional papers on topics ranging from feminist epistemology to Peirce's critique of the adversarial legal system and Bentham's critique of exclusionary rules of evidence-should attract longtime readers and newcomers alike.

Author: Susan Haack
ISBN-10: 159102689X
ISBN-13: 9781591026891
Publisher: Prometheus Books
Language: English
Published: 08/01/2009
Pages: 425
Format: Paperback
Weight: 1.28lbs
Size: 9.08h x 5.96w x 0.89d

Review Citation(s):
Reference and Research Bk News 11/01/2010 pg. 6