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Fear of knowledge : against relativism and constructivism / Paul A. Boghossian.

By: Material type: TextTextPublisher: Oxford : New York : Clarendon Press ; Oxford University Press, 2006Description: 139 pages ; 21 cmContent type:
  • text
Media type:
  • unmediated
Carrier type:
  • volume
ISBN:
  • 9780199287185 (hardback)
  • 019928718X (hardback)
Subject(s): DDC classification:
  • 121.3 BOG 23 012342
Contents:
1. Introduction 2. The social construction of knowledge 3. Constructing the facts 4. Relativizing the facts 5. Epistemic relativism defended 6. Epistemic relativism rejected 7. The paradox resolved 8. Epistemic reasons and the explanation of belief 9. Epilogue.
Summary: "Boghossian focuses on three different ways of reading the claim that knowledge is socially constructed - one as a thesis about truth and two about justification. And he rejects all three. The intuitive, common-sense view is that there is a way the world is that is independent of human opinion; and that we are capable of arriving at beliefs about how it is that are objectively reasonable, binding on anyone capable of appreciating the relevant evidence regardless of their social or cultural perspective. Difficult as these notions may be, it is a mistake to think that philosophy has uncovered powerful reasons for rejecting them." --book jacket.
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Holdings
Item type Current library Call number Status Date due Barcode
Book Book Indian Institute for Human Settlements, Bangalore 121.3 BOG 012342 (Browse shelf(Opens below)) Available 012342

Includes bibliographical references (p. [132]-135) and index.

1. Introduction
2. The social construction of knowledge
3. Constructing the facts
4. Relativizing the facts
5. Epistemic relativism defended
6. Epistemic relativism rejected
7. The paradox resolved
8. Epistemic reasons and the explanation of belief
9. Epilogue.

"Boghossian focuses on three different ways of reading the claim that knowledge is socially constructed - one as a thesis about truth and two about justification. And he rejects all three. The intuitive, common-sense view is that there is a way the world is that is independent of human opinion; and that we are capable of arriving at beliefs about how it is that are objectively reasonable, binding on anyone capable of appreciating the relevant evidence regardless of their social or cultural perspective. Difficult as these notions may be, it is a mistake to think that philosophy has uncovered powerful reasons for rejecting them." --book jacket.

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