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List of contents
- Introduction
- Chapter 1. Methodologies in Epistemology
- Chapter 2. The Point of Knowledge
- Chapter 3. The Value of Fallible Knowledge
- Chapter 4. Impure Knowledge
- Chapter 5. Pluralism about Knowledge
- Chapter 6. Epistemic Diversity
- Chapter 7. Epistemic Pragmatism
- Chapter 8. Skepticism and the Point of Knowledge
- Chapter 9. What's the Point of Understanding?
- Bibliography
About the author
Michael Hannon is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the University of Nottingham. After receiving his PhD from the University of Cambridge, he served as Deputy Director of the Institute of Philosophy at the University of London. His research in epistemology covers topics such as skepticism, fallibilism, the value of knowledge, and the role of truth in politics. He founded the Political Epistemology Network and holds a British Academy Rising Star Engagement Award for his project on political epistemology.
Summary
This book is about knowledge and its value. At its heart is a straightforward idea: we can answer many interesting and difficult questions in epistemology by reflecting on the role of epistemic evaluation in human life. Michael Hannon calls this approach function-first epistemology.
To Hannon, the concept of knowledge is used to identify reliable informants; this practice is necessary, or at least deeply important, because it plays a vital role in human survival, cooperation, and flourishing.
Though a seemingly simple idea, function-first epistemology has wide-reaching implications. From this premise, Hannon casts new light on the very nature and value of knowledge, the differences between knowledge and understanding, the relationship between knowledge, assertion, and practical reasoning, and the semantics of knowledge claims.
This book forges new paths into some classic philosophical puzzles, including the Gettier problem, epistemic relativism, and philosophical skepticism. What's the Point of Knowledge? shows that pivotal issues in epistemology can be resolved by taking a function-first approach, demonstrating the significant role that this method can play in contemporary philosophy.
Additional text
This is an excellent work. Michael Hannon very helpfully and sensitively unpacks the function-first methodology, including what Edward Craig has said on the matter. This is not, however, a re-hashing of Craig's views: Hannon develops his ideas in philosophically independent ways. Chapters individually and cumulatively are very impressive, covering a wide range of topics. They do not neglect any significant position, and respond to a truly impressive sample of contributors. Hannon is a clear and powerful thinker. I recommend this book highly.
