Human Knowledge: Classical and Contemporary Approaches

By Paul K. Moser and Arnold vander Nat

Book Overview

This collection of readings deftly blends the foremost classical sources with important contemporary philosophical thinkers to present a far-reaching examination of the theory of knowledge. Formative voices of epistemology from Ancient Greek Philosphy, Medieval Philosophy, Classical Modern Philosophy, Pragmatism, and Contemporary Analytic Philosophy are amply represented. Organized chronologically, Human Knowledge presents an impressive collection of non-technical essays from Plato, Aristotle, Sextus Empiricus, Augustine, Aquinas, Ockham, Descartes, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, Kant, James, Dewey, Lewis, Rorry, Quine, Chisolm, Putnam, Gettier, and many others. Each chapter is preceded by an introductory overview and helpful, up-to-date bibliographies provide students of all levels with guides to supplemental readings.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195041488
• ISBN13: 9780195041484
• Release Date: May 1987
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 405 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 0.8" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

Understand epistemology

This is an excellent anthology of primary sources in epistemology for an undergraduate or first year graduate level course. It is also a nice reference source for those who specialize in other areas of philosophy. Moser's introductions to each cluster of readings is of just the right length and depth (short but insightful). Although the lay reader will probably not be able to just plough through this book unless she has an unusually strong interest in the subject, it does its job of providing an historical overview and topical introduction to epistemology. The only shortcoming of the book, perhaps, is its omission of the internalism/externalism debate.