Juan Comesaña – författare

This book introduces students and other interested readers to the philosophical study of skepticism, a central and long-standing subject in philosophy. The first three chapters cover knowledge, providing the necessary foundation for introducing skepticism in the book's final three chapters. Throughout, the volume addresses basic questions in these two areas, such as:What are the differences between the three types of knowledge: direct knowledge, knowledge by ability, and propositional knowledge?What is the Gettier problem and why does it resist easy solutions?Why do philosophers still talk about René Descartes’ techniques for raising doubts about what we can know but have largely forgotten Descartes’ attempts to answer these doubts?How do we know that we’re not just brains in a vat?Is Pyrrhonian skepticism—the idea that we know absolutely nothing—ultimately self-refuting?With a glossary of key terms and suggestions for further reading, Skepticism: The Basics is an ideal starting point for anyone seeking a lively and accessible foray into the study of epistemology.Key Features and Benefits: Cover both traditional topics – like the tripartite conception of knowledge – and emerging issues, like knowledge-first epistemology and concessive responses to inductive skepticismDemystifies an area where beginners frequently get stuck: the difference between common-sense skepticism and philosophical skepticismClearly explains the important contributions from historical and contemporary thinkers, like Descartes, Hume, Popper, Quine, Dretske, Strawson, Nozick, and Sosa

This book introduces students and other interested readers to the philosophical study of skepticism, a central and long-standing subject in philosophy. The first three chapters cover knowledge, providing the necessary foundation for introducing skepticism in the book's final three chapters. Throughout, the volume addresses basic questions in these two areas, such as:What are the differences between the three types of knowledge: direct knowledge, knowledge by ability, and propositional knowledge?What is the Gettier problem and why does it resist easy solutions?Why do philosophers still talk about René Descartes’ techniques for raising doubts about what we can know but have largely forgotten Descartes’ attempts to answer these doubts?How do we know that we’re not just brains in a vat?Is Pyrrhonian skepticism—the idea that we know absolutely nothing—ultimately self-refuting?With a glossary of key terms and suggestions for further reading, Skepticism: The Basics is an ideal starting point for anyone seeking a lively and accessible foray into the study of epistemology.Key Features and Benefits: Cover both traditional topics – like the tripartite conception of knowledge – and emerging issues, like knowledge-first epistemology and concessive responses to inductive skepticismDemystifies an area where beginners frequently get stuck: the difference between common-sense skepticism and philosophical skepticismClearly explains the important contributions from historical and contemporary thinkers, like Descartes, Hume, Popper, Quine, Dretske, Strawson, Nozick, and Sosa

This book features original essays on knowledge and rationality as related to the work of Stewart Cohen. This is the first volume dedicated to Cohen, one of the most influential epistemologists of the last several decades.Stewart Cohen is responsible for introducing the New Evil Demon problem, the problem of easy knowledge, and epistemic contextualism. Any one of these contributions is sufficient by itself to establish a lasting philosophical legacy. The chapters in this book reflect Cohen’s legacy and address a variety of important topics related to his work, including the New Evil Demon problem, epistemic justification, epistemic contextualism, pragmatic and moral encroachment, epistemic obligations, skepticism, and the problem of easy knowledge. The book also includes a complete bibliography of Cohen’s works.Knowledge and Rationality is an essential resource for scholars and advanced students in epistemology with an interest in engaging with Stewart Cohen’s philosophy.