Knowledge and its Limits presents a systematic new conception of knowledge as a kind of mental stage sensitive to the knower's environment. It makes a major contribution to the debate between externalist and internalist philosophies of mind, and breaks radically with the epistemological tradition of analyzing knowledge in terms of true belief. The theory casts new light on such philosophical problems as scepticism, evidence, probability and assertion, realism and anti-realism, and the limits of what can be known. The arguments are illustrated by rigorous models based on epistemic logic and probability theory. The result is a new way of doing epistemology and a notable contribution to the philosophy of mind.
Review
"The best book in epistemology to come out since 1975"--Keith DeRose, British Journal for the Philosophy of Science
"Newness in philosophy is rare. But this important book offers a boldly original view of the nature of knowledge.... A daring new picture of knowledge is skillfully supported with an argumentative verve that its author, the new professor of logic at Oxford University, has made himself known for.... Throughout, Mr Williamson is bold, ingenious and original; the tradition he opposes appears by contrast stale, scholastic and uninspired.... Anyone with a serious interest in philosophy will have much to learn from this challenging book."-- The Economist
"Radical and challenging...without question and important exercise of the 'let me show you a new way of looking at things' kind; something we sorely need in epistemology."--Frank Jackson, Australasian Journal of Philosophy
About the Author
Timothy Williamson is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh.
Knowledge and its Limits presents a systematic new conception of knowledge as a kind of mental stage sensitive to the knower's environment. It makes a major contribution to the debate between externalist and internalist philosophies of mind, and breaks radically with the epistemological tradition of analyzing knowledge in terms of true belief. The theory casts new light on such philosophical problems as scepticism, evidence, probability and assertion, realism and anti-realism, and the limits of what can be known. The arguments are illustrated by rigorous models based on epistemic logic and probability theory. The result is a new way of doing epistemology and a notable contribution to the philosophy of mind.
Review
"The best book in epistemology to come out since 1975"--Keith DeRose, British Journal for the Philosophy of Science
"Newness in philosophy is rare. But this important book offers a boldly original view of the nature of knowledge.... A daring new picture of knowledge is skillfully supported with an argumentative verve that its author, the new professor of logic at Oxford University, has made himself known for.... Throughout, Mr Williamson is bold, ingenious and original; the tradition he opposes appears by contrast stale, scholastic and uninspired.... Anyone with a serious interest in philosophy will have much to learn from this challenging book."-- The Economist
"Radical and challenging...without question and important exercise of the 'let me show you a new way of looking at things' kind; something we sorely need in epistemology."--Frank Jackson, Australasian Journal of Philosophy
About the Author
Timothy Williamson is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh.