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A Critical Introduction to Testimony
The epistemology of testimony is a rapidly developing area in contemporary analytic philosophy. In this first thorough survey of the recent debate on the subject, Axel Gelfert provides an in-depth introduction to what has become one of the liveliest debates in contemporary epistemology.
Covering existing literature and major debates, A Critical Introduction to Testimony discusses the epistemic status of testimony-based beliefs, relates changes to relevant developments in other areas and offers a critical perspective on current and future research trends. Devoting space to both the applications of social epistemology and the larger conceptual issues of knowledge, Gelfert not only introduces the epistemology of testimony; he offers an up-to-date introduction to epistemology. Equipped with a mix of study questions, examples, and suggestions for further reading, students of contemporary epistemology will find this a reliable guide to studying testimony as a source of knowledge.
Covering existing literature and major debates, A Critical Introduction to Testimony discusses the epistemic status of testimony-based beliefs, relates changes to relevant developments in other areas and offers a critical perspective on current and future research trends. Devoting space to both the applications of social epistemology and the larger conceptual issues of knowledge, Gelfert not only introduces the epistemology of testimony; he offers an up-to-date introduction to epistemology. Equipped with a mix of study questions, examples, and suggestions for further reading, students of contemporary epistemology will find this a reliable guide to studying testimony as a source of knowledge.
- GenresPhilosophy
264 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
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October 5, 2014It appears as if I'm groping toward a theory of successful literary biography - not prescriptive, of course, but rather descriptive of my personal, idiosyncratic sense of success in literary biography, a sense that governs the responses of a reading audience of one to books of this kind. After all, every reader creates his own Emily Dickinson or Arthur Rimbaud.
And so when I happened upon Gelfert's introduction, I was happy to learn that certain persons are creating an "epistemology of testimony" - news to me. The products of this effort obviously relate to my interest in rules of evidence that apply in civil and criminal procedure as a source of insight into criteria of "levels" of credibility that might apply in reading/assessing history and biography. [I hate metaphors in exposition - but it's Sunday AM, and I have drunk only one cup of coffee, just enough to get me going - a little, not sufficient to evoke clarity of thought and expression.]
So it will be interesting to learn what the epistemologists have to say. I don't expect any agreement, not even consensus, but I'm curious to learn how philosophers and lawyers differ on this topic.
And so when I happened upon Gelfert's introduction, I was happy to learn that certain persons are creating an "epistemology of testimony" - news to me. The products of this effort obviously relate to my interest in rules of evidence that apply in civil and criminal procedure as a source of insight into criteria of "levels" of credibility that might apply in reading/assessing history and biography. [I hate metaphors in exposition - but it's Sunday AM, and I have drunk only one cup of coffee, just enough to get me going - a little, not sufficient to evoke clarity of thought and expression.]
So it will be interesting to learn what the epistemologists have to say. I don't expect any agreement, not even consensus, but I'm curious to learn how philosophers and lawyers differ on this topic.
Displaying 1 of 1 review