Guide through the Theory of Knowledge

Adam Morton is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Oklahoma. His publications include Frames of Mind (1980), Disasters and Dilemmas (Blackwell, 1991), and Philosophy in Practice: An Introduction to the Main Questions (Blackwell, 1995).

• Foreword for Students viiiAcknowledgments x1 Beliefs and their Qualities 11. Defending and Attacking Beliefs 12. Epistemic Ideals 23. The Basic Concepts 44. The Basic Questions of the Theory of Knowledge 95. Two Extreme Views 102 Perception 191. The Issues 192. The Concepts 203. Empiricism 224. Some Experiments 285. Evidence without Certainty 316. What is Special about Perception? 343 Apriori Beliefs 401. Knowledge Just by Thinking 402. Apriori, Analytic, Necessary 413. Kant on the Synthetic Apriori 444. Quine on the Analytic/Synthetic Distinction 475. Conceptual Truths 486. The Uses of Reasoning 514 Inductive Reasoning 571. Simple Induction 572. Hume’s Problem 583. Goodman’s Problem 594. Sampling 615. Solutions to Goodman’s Problem 636. Justifying Induction 657. The Safeness of Induction 668. IBE 679. Safeness Reconsidered 695 Middleword: Fallibilism 751. Error versus Ignorance 752. Foundationalism versus Holism 773. Fallibilisms 794. How the Web Changes 826 Defining Knowledge 881. Top-grade Belief 882. Lehrer’s Principle 913. Reliability: The Case of the Ancient Mariner 924. Missing Information 965. Knowledge and Trust 987 Externalism and Epistemic Virtues 1041. The Escape from Justification 1042. Externalism 1063. Cousins of Knowledge 1084. Skepticism and Knowing that You Know 1095. Virtues 1116. The Externalist Attitude 1138 Knowledge of Minds 1161. Psychological Beliefs 1162. Self-centered Theories 1183. Behavioral Theories 1194. Folk Psychology 1225. Materialist Theories 1256. Errors of Self-attribution 1267. Dispositions, Occurrences, and Reliability 1288. Conclusion: The Indispensability of Psychology 1319 Moral Knowledge 1351. Knowing Right from Wrong 1352. Thick and Thin Moral Beliefs 1353. Analogies: Color, Humor, and Witches 1384. Cognitivism 1425. Knowing What You Know 14410 Bayesian and Naturalist Theories 1491. Why Probability? 1492. A Guide through the Theory of Probability 1513. The Bayesian Picture of Evidence 1544. Objections to Bayesianism 1575. Background Beliefs 1606. Rationality Naturalized 1637. Bayesianism versus Naturalism 16711 Afterword: Some Future Epistemology 173Definitions 180Appendix for Teachers 184Index 190

"Morton's highly readable third edition treats a notoriously difficult topic with pizzazz. Colorful illustrations encourage readers to think deeply about complex issues, not just memorize what philosophers have said about them. One could hardly hope for a better guide through the rough terrain of epistemology." Martin Montminy, University of Ottawa "This new edition of Adam Morton's well-established introduction to epistemology will be extremely helpful to students and teachers. The book is particularly suited for those coming to the area for the first time. It is clear without being simplistic, engaging without being patronizing, and introductory without being bland. This new edition brings the discussion up to date, while the new chapter on externalism and epistemic virtues explores the issues very well. Once again, Morton's guidance will be invaluable to many." Robert Stern, University of Sheffield