Epistemology This comprehensive introduction explains the concepts and theories central to understanding knowledge. The third edition features new sections on such topics as the nature of intuition, the skeptical challenge of rational disagree- ment, and “the value problem”—the question why knowledge is preferable to mere true belief. Special features of the third edition of Epistemology include: • enhanced treatment of key topics such as perception, scientific hypotheses, self-evidence and the a priori, testimony, contextualism, understanding, and virtue epistemology • expanded discussion of the relation between epistemology and related fields, especially philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, and ethics • greater clarity for undergraduate readers. Praise for the third edition: “. . . Robert Audi’s Epistemology, Third Edition, is the most authorita- tive, comprehensive, and state-of-the-art textbook in the field. In clear, masterful prose, Audi covers all the main topics in epistemology . . . Every student of epistemology—new and old—should read this book.” —Peter Graham, University of California, Riverside “. . . unusually comprehensive, elegantly structured, and accessible . . . a cutting-edge treatment of the latest debates about the nature of intu- itions, the significance of rational disagreement, and the value of knowl- edge and justified true belief.” —Ralph Kennedy, Wake Forest University “. . . a well-motivated, comprehensive, accessible introduction for stu- dents as well as an original, exciting, cutting-edge work of epistemology in its own right. Novices and experts alike will continually profit—and tremendously so—from studying it . . . an ideal text for undergraduate courses in epistemology, and even graduate-level surveys.” —E.J. Coffman, University of Tennessee Praise for the second edition: “. . . philosophically insightful and masterfully written—even more so in its new edition. Guaranteed to fascinate the beginner while retaining its exalted status with the experts.” —Claudio de Almeida, PUCRS, Brazil “My students like this book and have learned much from it, as I have . . . Epistemology . . . is simply the best textbook in epistemology that I know of.” —Thomas Vinci, Dalhousie University Praise for the first edition: “No less than one would expect from a first-rate epistemologist who is also a master expositor . . . A superb introduction.” —Ernest Sosa, Rutgers University “This is a massively impressive book, introducing . . . virtually all the main areas of epistemology. . . . lucid and highly readable, while not shirking the considerable complexities of his subject matter.” —Elizabeth .M. Fricker, University of Oxford “A state-of-the-art introduction to epistemology by one of the leading figures in the field.” —William P. Alston, Syracuse University Robert Audi is John A. O’Brien Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame and author of many papers and books on knowledge and belief, justification, and rationality. Epistemology A Contemporary Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge Third Edition Robert Audi Routledge Contemporary Introductions to Philosophy Series editor: Paul K Moser, Loyola University of Chicago This innovative, well-structured series is for students who have already done an introductory course in philosophy. Each book introduces a core general subject in contemporary philosophy and offers students an accessible but substantial transition from introductory to higher-level college work in that subject. The series is accessible to non-specialists and each book clearly moti- vates and expounds the problems and positions introduced. An orientating chapter briefly introduces its topic and reminds readers of any crucial material they need to have retained from a typical introductory course. Considerable attention is given to explaining the central philosophical problems of a sub- ject and the main competing solutions and arguments for those solutions. The primary aim is to educate students in the main problems, positions, and arguments of contemporary philosophy rather than to convince students of a single position. Epistemology Philosophy of Language Third edition Second edition Robert Audi Willam G. Lycan Philosophy of Mind Philosophy of Religion Third edition Keith E. Yandell John Heil Philosophy of Art Philosophy of Perception Noël Carroll William Fish Philosophy of Psychology Metaphysics José Bermudez Third edition Social and Political Michael J. Loux Philosophy Philosophy of Mathematics John Christman Second edition Continental Philosophy James Robert Brown Andrew Cutrofello Classical Philosophy Free Will (forthcoming) Christopher Shields Michael McKenna Classical Modern Ethics (forthcoming) Philosophy Second edition Jeffrey Tlumak Harry Gensler Ethics Feminist Philosophy Harry Gensler (forthcoming) Philosophy of Science Lorraine Code Second edition Philosophy of Literature Alex Rosenberg (forthcoming) Philosophy of Biology John Gibson Alex Rosenberg and Daniel W. McShea First edition published 1998, second edition published 2003 by Routledge This edition first published 2011 by Routledge 270 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016 Simultaneously published in the UK by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2010. To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk. First edition © 1998 Taylor & Francis Second edition © 2003 Taylor & Francis Third edition © 2011 Taylor & Francis All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Audi, Robert Epistemology : a contemporary introduction to the theory of knowledge / Robert Audi. — 3rd ed. p. cm. — (Routledge contemporary introductions to philosophy) Includes bibliographical references and index. [etc.] 1. Knowledge, Theory of. I. Title. BD161.A783 2010 121—dc22 2010005139 ISBN 13: 978-0-415-87922-4 (hbk) ISBN 13: 978-0-415-87923-1 (pbk) To Malou Contents Preface to the first edition xiii Acknowledgments to the first edition xvi Preface to the second edition xviii Acknowledgments to the second edition xx Preface to the third edition xxi Acknowledgments to the third edition xxii Introduction: a sketch of the sources and nature of belief, justification, and knowledge 1 Perception, belief, and justification 1 Justification as process, as status, and as property 2 Knowledge and justification 4 Memory, introspection, and self-consciousness 5 Reason and rational reflection 5 Testimony 6 Basic sources of belief, justification, and knowledge 6 Three kinds of grounds of belief 7 Fallibility and skepticism 8 Overview 9 Part One Sources of justification, knowledge, and truth 13 1 Perception: sensing, believing, and knowing 16 The elements and basic kinds of perception 17 Seeing and believing 22 Perceptual justification and perceptual knowledge 26 Notes 31