Philosophy, the Big Questions #3: Epistemology: The Big Questions

As well as including the classic papers from the history of epistemology, this distinctive, wide-ranging anthology provides essential coverage of key contemporary challenges to that tradition.

Alongside debates over internalism and externalism, foundationalism, and coherentism, and whether epistemology can or should be naturalized, are included essays on the subject of knowledge, the political implications of foundationalism, and the 'maleness' of reason. Sections on knowledge, justification, truth, skepticism, the structure of knowledge, and the politics of knowledge are each preceded with brief, accessible introductions that help frame the debates and bridge the diversity of approaches.

Students of epistemology will be able to learn about and assess a wider range of epistemological issues than any other existing anthology can currently provide. Organized specifically with courses in mind, Epistemology: The Big Questions is accessible to upper-level undergraduates and graduate students.

As well as including the classic papers from the history of epistemology, this distinctive, wide-ranging anthology provides essential coverage of key contemporary challenges to that tradition.

"Professor Alcoff has assembled a first-rate new collection in epistemology. Its most obvious virtue is that it brings together classic papers in analytic epistemology with recent work in feminist epistemology, allowing comparison and cross-fertilization of work which, for too many, has been treated as if falling into altogether distinct areas. In addition, this collection is sensibly organized more thorough than most, and provided with clear and helpful introductions to each section. It will be valuable resource for both undergraduate and graduate courses." – Mark Norris, Georgetown University

"Linda Alcoff presents and organizes central debates in epistemology in a way that both illuminates and bridges diverse contemporary approaches. Her provocative juxtapositions can help to reinvigorate traditional discussions and help set new directions." – Naomi Scheman, Gothenburg University

Part I: What is Knowledge?.

Part II: How Are Beliefs Justified?.

Part III: What is the Structure of Knowledge?.

Part IV: What is Naturalized Epistemology?.

Part V: What is Truth?.

Part VI: What if We Don't Know Anything At All?.

Part VII: How is Epistemology Political?.

Further Reading.