Ignorance

Rik Peels is known for his philosophical work on the ethics of belief, ignorance, scientism, and issues in the philosophy of religion. Over the last few years, he has been co-leader of various international projects funded by the Templeton World Charity Foundation. Increasingly, he addresses topics at the intersection of philosophy and empirical disciplines, such as replication in the humanities and the epistemic responsibilities of universities. He is currently leading a large research project, funded by the European Research Council, on the epistemology and ethics of extreme beliefs. He aims to synthesize empirical work with conceptual and normative approaches to fundamentalism, extremism, and conspiracy thinking.

Peels is one of the leading figures working on the philosophy of ignorance. This comprehensive treatment of the subject will be the touchstone for all future work on this topic and thus required reading for anyone interested in understanding ignorance. -Duncan Pritchard, UC Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, University of California, Irvine

• ContentsAcknowledgmentsList of Illustrations 1. Introduction: We Need to Know More about IgnoranceIntroductionA Brief History of the Philosophical Study of IgnoranceThe Neglect of Ignorance in EpistemologyA New Approach to IgnoranceOverview of the Book Part 1 The Epistemology of Ignorance 2. Kinds of IgnoranceIntroductionPropositional IgnoranceObjectual IgnorancePractical IgnoranceErotetic IgnoranceIgnorance and UnderstandingIgnorance and WisdomThe Nature of Ignorance and Its Contingent PropertiesA Rival View: El Kassar on IgnoranceConclusion 3. The Nature of Propositional IgnoranceIntroductionThe Standard and New Views on IgnoranceArguments for the Standard ViewArguments for the New ViewIgnorance and the Duty to InquireThe Epistemic Badness of IgnoranceConclusion 4. Varieties of Propositional IgnoranceIntroductionSix Varieties of IgnoranceFurther Varieties of Ignorance?Objections and RepliesFirst- and Second-Order IgnoranceDisentangling the Varieties of IgnoranceConclusion 5. Group IgnoranceIntroductionTwo Cases: Fundamentalist and White IgnoranceExtrapolating from Group Belief?The Dynamic Account of Group IgnoranceObjections and RepliesConclusion 6. Degrees of IgnoranceIntroductionWhat Are Degrees?Degrees of Propositional IgnoranceDegrees of Objectual IgnoranceDegrees of Practical IgnoranceDegrees of Group IgnoranceConclusion Part 2 Applying the Epistemology of Ignorance 7. Strategic IgnoranceIntroductionA New Conception of Ignorance in Agnotology?The Standard and New Views on Strategic IgnoranceStrategic Ignorance as Group IgnoranceKinds of Strategic IgnoranceVarieties of Strategic IgnoranceDegrees of Strategic IgnoranceConclusion 8. White IgnoranceIntroductionA New Conception of Ignorance in the Philosophy of Race?Kinds of White IgnoranceVarieties of White IgnoranceWhite Ignorance as Group IgnoranceDegrees of White IgnoranceConclusion 9. Ignorance in EducationIntroductionPresenting DefeatersScaffoldingPromoting UnderstandingShowing That the Student Does Not KnowObjectual IgnorancePractical IgnoranceGroup IgnoranceConclusion 10. Ignorance That ExcusesIntroductionExcusesIgnorance of What Excuses?Does Normative Ignorance Excuse as Well?Which Varieties of Ignorance Excuse?Group Ignorance as an ExcuseConclusion 11. The Roots of Culpable IgnoranceIntroductionCulpabilityThe Influence ViewTwo Rival Views: Compatibilism and AttributionismThe Origination Thesis Influence and Culpable IgnoranceObjections and RepliesRamificationsConclusion 12. Asserting IgnoranceIntroductionAsserting Objectual and Practical IgnoranceAsserting the Varieties of IgnoranceAsserting Unwarranted IgnoranceAsserting Ignorance That Issues from Duty ViolationAsserting Group IgnoranceInexpressible Ignorance and the Transparency ViewConclusion EpilogueReferencesIndex