An Introduction to Historical Epistemology: The Authority of Knowledge
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Book Overview
This introduction to the theory of knowledge argues for the continuing relevance of philosophical debates about knowledge by connecting them to issues of authority. The discussion takes the form of an essay in historical epistemology which treats the philosopher-politician Frnacis Bacon as its pivotal figure. This affords a non-Cartesian perspective on the transition to modern philosophy from which the distinctive configurations of the Cartesian framework can be discerned. The strategy is to use history as a route to a critical appraisal of "modernism" without embracing post-modernism,Ancient Greek discussions of knowledge from Protagoras to Epicurus via Plato and Aristotle are introduced to illustrate the sense in which modern philosophy broke with ancient tradition while being at the same time conditioned by it. The Baconian vision was of human progress achieved through the acquisition of knowledge which makes domination of nature possible. The tensions inherent in this vision and the way in which they have worked to undermine it are illustrated by refesrence to the views of Kant and Hume and by tracing their consequences.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0631175156
ISBN13:9780631175155
Release Date:August 1993
Publisher:Wiley-Blackwell
Length:240 Pages
Weight:0.80 lbs.
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PhilosophyCustomer Reviews
1 rating
Singular history of philosophy
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 23 years ago
This is an accomplished book on the history of philosophy from an epistemological perspective. The authors argue that we cannot evade epistemological thinking. Any methaphysics pertains to some kind of epistemic presumptions. On the other hand, an epistemic philosophy must further some metaphysical views. Accordingly, the authors don't believe in the enterprise of analytic philosophy, namely to circumvent epistemology altogether. The epistemic positions of the most important philosophers are covered, from Plato to Wittgenstein. The book centers around Bacon's notion of Idols (Idols of the Theater, etc.) and uses these to throw light upon the problems of knowledge. This book presents a critique of different standpoints, so it's not simply a depiction of the different schools. For instance, the universal Cartesian standpoint of today (empiricism versus rationality) is contrasted with the curious epistemology of Giambattista Vico.Mats W
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