An Introduction to Contemporary Epistemology
Dancy (Jonathan)
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Amazon Customer Review

  1. This book introduces and defends the coherence theory of truth and justification as an approach to the epistemological enterprise.
    • The book starts out with a clear classification of central sceptical problems and the author’s convictions that they should be taken seriously.
    • It then introduces the definition of knowledge and the associated Gettier problems as well as providing a critique of the conditional theory, causal theory and defeasibility condition theory.
    • Thirdly the book provides a critique of foundationalism as a theory of justification and instead defends the coherence theory against some of its traditional criticisms and makes an interesting case for the coherence theory justifying inductive reasoning.
  2. I found this book quite enjoyable, the arguments are passionately given but are at the same time clear and make much reference to other philosophers, especially Quine (it's not just the author’s own views and theories being run off).
  3. Readers are unlikely to buy some of the author's defensive arguments for the coherence theory – he seems to try and sidestep the plurality objection rather than create a strong argument against it – but the book is worth reading for its scope of inquiry alone: perception, memory, induction, holism versus atomism, indeterminacy etc. All are examined with reference to the coherence theory's application to their central poblems.

For a detailed analysis of the whole book, follow this link1.


"Dancy (Jonathan) - An Introduction to Contemporary Epistemology: Introduction"

Source: Dancy - An Introduction to Contemporary Epistemology, 1985, Introduction


Philosophers Index Abstract
    An introductory textbook covering the main areas of contemporary debate, with sections on knowledge, justification, perception, etc. Direct realism is preferred to other theories of perception. In general, a coherentist perspective is preferred even to weak forms of foundationalism. Various answers to the probings of the sceptic are suggested, and the relevance of the internalism/externalism distinction made clear. The book ends with chapters on memory, induction, a priori knowledge and the possibility of epistemology.

Paper Comment

For a précis, see this Note1.

Write-up2 (as at 14/03/2015 11:36:58): Dancy - Contemporary Epistemology: Introduction

This note provides my detailed review of "Dancy (Jonathan) - An Introduction to Contemporary Epistemology: Introduction".

Currently, this write-up is only available as a PDF. For a précis and analysis of the whole book, click File Note (PDF). It is my intention to convert this to Note format shortly, and to break it down by Chapter.

… Further details to be supplied3



In-Page Footnotes ("Dancy (Jonathan) - An Introduction to Contemporary Epistemology: Introduction")

Footnote 2:
  • This is the write-up as it was when this Abstract was last output, with text as at the timestamp indicated (14/03/2015 11:36:58).
  • Link to Latest Write-Up Note.


"Dancy (Jonathan) - Scepticism"

Source: Dancy - An Introduction to Contemporary Epistemology, 1985, Chapter 1


Sections
  1. Some Distinctions
  2. Three Sceptical Arguments
    … 2.1 Brains in Vats1
    … 2.2 The Argument from Error
    … 1.2.3 The Justification of Arguments from Experience
  3. A Short Way with the Sceptic
  4. Another Reply
  5. A Better Response

Paper Comment

For a précis, see this Note2.

Write-up3 (as at 14/03/2015 11:36:58): Dancy - Scepticism

This note provides my detailed review of "Dancy (Jonathan) - Scepticism".

Currently, this write-up is only available as a PDF. For a précis and analysis of the whole book, click File Note (PDF). It is my intention to convert this to Note format shortly, and to break it down by Chapter.

… Further details to be supplied4



In-Page Footnotes ("Dancy (Jonathan) - Scepticism")

Footnote 3:
  • This is the write-up as it was when this Abstract was last output, with text as at the timestamp indicated (14/03/2015 11:36:58).
  • Link to Latest Write-Up Note.


"Dancy (Jonathan) - Knowledge"

Source: Dancy - An Introduction to Contemporary Epistemology, 1985, Chapter 2


Sections
  1. The Traditional Account
  2. Gettier Counter-examples
  3. Responses to Gettier
    … 3.1 The Presence of Relevant Falsehood
    … 3.2 Defeasibility
    … 3.3 Reliability
    … 3.4 Conclusive Reasons
    … 3.5 The Causal Theory
  4. Concluding Remarks

Paper Comment

For a précis, see this Note1.

Write-up2 (as at 14/03/2015 11:36:58): Dancy - Knowledge

This note provides my detailed review of "Dancy (Jonathan) - Knowledge".

Currently, this write-up is only available as a PDF. For a précis and analysis of the whole book, click File Note (PDF). It is my intention to convert this to Note format shortly, and to break it down by Chapter.

… Further details to be supplied3



In-Page Footnotes ("Dancy (Jonathan) - Knowledge")

Footnote 2:
  • This is the write-up as it was when this Abstract was last output, with text as at the timestamp indicated (14/03/2015 11:36:58).
  • Link to Latest Write-Up Note.


"Dancy (Jonathan) - The Conditional Theory of Knowledge"

Source: Dancy - An Introduction to Contemporary Epistemology, 1985, Chapter 3


Sections
  1. The Theory
  2. Some Comments
    … 2.1 Relation to the Other Theories
    … 2.2 Relation to Justified Belief
    … 2.3 Luck
    … 2.4 Certainty
  3. The Principle of Closure & the First Sceptical Argument
    … 3.1 Disproof of the Principle of Closure (PCk)
  4. Has Nozick Refuted the Sceptic?
  5. Internalism and Externalism

Paper Comment

For a précis, see this Note1.

Write-up2 (as at 14/03/2015 11:36:58): Dancy - The Conditional Theory of Knowledge

This note provides my detailed review of "Dancy (Jonathan) - The Conditional Theory of Knowledge".

Currently, this write-up is only available as a PDF. For a précis and analysis of the whole book, click File Note (PDF). It is my intention to convert this to Note format shortly, and to break it down by Chapter.

… Further details to be supplied3



In-Page Footnotes ("Dancy (Jonathan) - The Conditional Theory of Knowledge")

Footnote 2:
  • This is the write-up as it was when this Abstract was last output, with text as at the timestamp indicated (14/03/2015 11:36:58).
  • Link to Latest Write-Up Note.


"Dancy (Jonathan) - Foundationalism"

Source: Dancy - An Introduction to Contemporary Epistemology, 1985, Chapter 4


Sections
  1. Classical Foundationalism
    … 1.1 Probability and Certainty
    … 1.2 The Regress Argument
    … 1.3 Infallibility and Justification
  2. Problems for Classical Foundationalism
  3. Foundationalism Without Infallibility

Paper Comment

For a précis, see this Note1.

Write-up2 (as at 14/03/2015 11:36:58): Dancy - Foundationalism

This note provides my detailed review of "Dancy (Jonathan) - Foundationalism".

Currently, this write-up is only available as a PDF. For a précis and analysis of the whole book, click File Note (PDF). It is my intention to convert this to Note format shortly, and to break it down by Chapter.

… Further details to be supplied3



In-Page Footnotes ("Dancy (Jonathan) - Foundationalism")

Footnote 2:
  • This is the write-up as it was when this Abstract was last output, with text as at the timestamp indicated (14/03/2015 11:36:58).
  • Link to Latest Write-Up Note.


"Dancy (Jonathan) - Foundationalism and Other Minds"

Source: Dancy - An Introduction to Contemporary Epistemology, 1985, Chapter 5


Sections
  1. Basic Beliefs and One’s Own Sensory States
  2. The Problem of Other Minds
  3. The Argument from Analogy
  4. Can you Understand Propositions about Minds other than Your Own?
  5. The Private Language Argument: Rule Following
  6. Another Interpretation
    … 6.1 Objection 1 (Solo-operation?)
    … 6.2 Objection 2 (Objectivity?)
  7. Common Conclusions
  8. Prospects for Foundationalism

Paper Comment

For a précis, see this Note1.

Write-up2 (as at 14/03/2015 11:36:58): Dancy - Foundationalism and Other Minds

This note provides my detailed review of "Dancy (Jonathan) - Foundationalism and Other Minds".

Currently, this write-up is only available as a PDF. For a précis and analysis of the whole book, click File Note (PDF). It is my intention to convert this to Note format shortly, and to break it down by Chapter.

… Further details to be supplied3



In-Page Footnotes ("Dancy (Jonathan) - Foundationalism and Other Minds")

Footnote 2:
  • This is the write-up as it was when this Abstract was last output, with text as at the timestamp indicated (14/03/2015 11:36:58).
  • Link to Latest Write-Up Note.


"Dancy (Jonathan) - Empiricist Theories of Meaning"

Source: Dancy - An Introduction to Contemporary Epistemology, 1985, Chapter 6


Sections
  1. The Relevance of Theories of Meaning to Epistemology
  2. Logical Empiricism and the Evidence of One’s Senses
  3. Three Verificationist Theories
    … 3.1 Phenomenalism
    … 3.2 Carnap’s Relaxation
    … 3.3 Quine

Paper Comment

For a précis, see this Note1.

Write-up2 (as at 14/03/2015 11:36:58): Dancy - Empiricist Theories of Meaning

This note provides my detailed review of "Dancy (Jonathan) - Empiricist Theories of Meaning".
Currently, this write-up is only available as a PDF. For a précis and analysis of the whole book, click File Note (PDF). It is my intention to convert this to Note format shortly, and to break it down by Chapter.

… Further details to be supplied3



In-Page Footnotes ("Dancy (Jonathan) - Empiricist Theories of Meaning")

Footnote 2:
  • This is the write-up as it was when this Abstract was last output, with text as at the timestamp indicated (14/03/2015 11:36:58).
  • Link to Latest Write-Up Note.


"Dancy (Jonathan) - Holism and Indeterminacy"

Source: Dancy - An Introduction to Contemporary Epistemology, 1985, Chapter 7


Sections
  1. The Indeterminacy of Translation
  2. Quine as a Foundationalist
  3. Atomism and Holism
  4. The Merits of a More Complete Holism
    … 4.1 Argument 1: the “argument from above”
    … 4.2 Argument 2: the criteria used in translations
    … 4.3 Argument 3: the relation between belief and meaning
    … 4.4 Conclusion
  5. Verificationism, Anti-Realism and Foundationalism

Paper Comment

For a précis, see this Note1.

Write-up2 (as at 14/03/2015 11:36:58): Dancy - Holism and Indeterminacy

This note provides my detailed review of "Dancy (Jonathan) - Holism and Indeterminacy".

Currently, this write-up is only available as a PDF. For a précis and analysis of the whole book, click File Note (PDF). It is my intention to convert this to Note format shortly, and to break it down by Chapter.

… Further details to be supplied3



In-Page Footnotes ("Dancy (Jonathan) - Holism and Indeterminacy")

Footnote 2:
  • This is the write-up as it was when this Abstract was last output, with text as at the timestamp indicated (14/03/2015 11:36:58).
  • Link to Latest Write-Up Note.


"Dancy (Jonathan) - Coherence Theories"

Source: Dancy - An Introduction to Contemporary Epistemology, 1985, Chapter 8


Sections
  1. What is Coherence?
  2. The Coherence Theory of Truth
  3. The Coherence Theory of Justification
  4. The Role of Empirical Data
  5. Coherentism and Empiricism

Paper Comment

For a précis, see this Note1.

Write-up2 (as at 14/03/2015 11:36:58): Dancy - Coherence Theories

This note provides my detailed review of "Dancy (Jonathan) - Coherence Theories".

Currently, this write-up is only available as a PDF. For a précis and analysis of the whole book, click File Note (PDF). It is my intention to convert this to Note format shortly, and to break it down by Chapter.

… Further details to be supplied3



In-Page Footnotes ("Dancy (Jonathan) - Coherence Theories")

Footnote 2:
  • This is the write-up as it was when this Abstract was last output, with text as at the timestamp indicated (14/03/2015 11:36:58).
  • Link to Latest Write-Up Note.


"Dancy (Jonathan) - Coherence, Justification and Knowledge"

Source: Dancy - An Introduction to Contemporary Epistemology, 1985, Chapter 9


Sections
  1. The Regress Argument
    … 1.1 A First Regress Argument
    … 1.2 Another Regress Argument
  2. Internalism and Externalism
  3. Degrees of Internalism
    … 3.1 No clause c
    … 3.2 Accompany c with Kac
    … 3.3 Accompany c with Bac
    … 3.4 Accompany c with JBac
  4. Internalism and Coherentism
  5. Coherentism, Realism and Scepticism

Paper Comment

For a précis, see this Note1.

Write-up2 (as at 14/03/2015 11:36:58): Dancy - Coherence, Justification and Knowledge

This note provides my detailed review of "Dancy (Jonathan) - Coherence, Justification and Knowledge".

Currently, this write-up is only available as a PDF. For a précis and analysis of the whole book, click File Note (PDF). It is my intention to convert this to Note format shortly, and to break it down by Chapter.

… Further details to be supplied3



In-Page Footnotes ("Dancy (Jonathan) - Coherence, Justification and Knowledge")

Footnote 2:
  • This is the write-up as it was when this Abstract was last output, with text as at the timestamp indicated (14/03/2015 11:36:58).
  • Link to Latest Write-Up Note.


"Dancy (Jonathan) - Theories of Perception"

Source: Dancy - An Introduction to Contemporary Epistemology, 1985, Chapter 10


Sections
  1. Is There Room for a Philosophy of Perception?
  2. Theories of Perception
  3. Direct Realism
  4. Indirect Realism
  5. Naïve and Scientific Forms of Indirect Realism
  6. Phenomenalism and Idealism

Paper Comment

For a précis, see this Note1.

Write-up2 (as at 14/03/2015 11:36:58): Dancy - Theories of Perception

This note provides my detailed review of "Dancy (Jonathan) - Theories of Perception".

Currently, this write-up is only available as a PDF. For a précis and analysis of the whole book, click File Note (PDF). It is my intention to convert this to Note format shortly, and to break it down by Chapter.

… Further details to be supplied3



In-Page Footnotes ("Dancy (Jonathan) - Theories of Perception")

Footnote 2:
  • This is the write-up as it was when this Abstract was last output, with text as at the timestamp indicated (14/03/2015 11:36:58).
  • Link to Latest Write-Up Note.


"Dancy (Jonathan) - Perception: the Choice of a Theory"

Source: Dancy - An Introduction to Contemporary Epistemology, 1985, Chapter 11


Sections
  1. Phenomenalism and the Explanation of Experience
  2. Indirect Realism: Double Awareness and a Double Object
    … 2.1 The Sceptical Objection
    … 2.2 The Direct and the Indirect
    … 2.3 Inferential Realism
    … 2.4 Conclusion
  3. Direct Realism and the Explanation of Perceptual Error
  4. A Causal Element
    … 4.1 Comment 1: Reliability Requirements
    … 4.2 Comment 2: Externalism
  5. Perception, Causation1 and Justification
    … 5.1 Justification 1: Truth Tracking
    … 5.2 Justification 2: Conceptual Necessity
    … 5.3 Justification 3: Coherentism
    … 5.4 Justification 4: Causal
  6. Direct Realism and Coherentism
    … 6.1 Pure anti-realists should be phenomenalists
    … 6.2 A coherentist should be a direct rather than indirect realist
    … 6.3 Scientific direct realism is better than the naïve form

Paper Comment

For a précis, see this Note2.

Write-up3 (as at 14/03/2015 11:36:58): Dancy - Perception: the Choice of a Theory

This note provides my detailed review of "Dancy (Jonathan) - Perception: the Choice of a Theory".

Currently, this write-up is only available as a PDF. For a précis and analysis of the whole book, click File Note (PDF). It is my intention to convert this to Note format shortly, and to break it down by Chapter.

… Further details to be supplied4



In-Page Footnotes ("Dancy (Jonathan) - Perception: the Choice of a Theory")

Footnote 3:
  • This is the write-up as it was when this Abstract was last output, with text as at the timestamp indicated (14/03/2015 11:36:58).
  • Link to Latest Write-Up Note.


"Dancy (Jonathan) - Memory"

Source: Dancy - An Introduction to Contemporary Epistemology, 1985, Chapter 12


Sections
  1. Theories of Memory
  2. Indirect Realism
    … 2.1 Objection 1: double awareness
    … 2.2 Objection 2: double intermediacy
    … 2.3 Objection 3: memory and imagination
  3. Direct Realism
    … 3.1 Factual memory
    … 3.2 Perceptual memory
    … 3.3 Definitions, distinctions and contrasts
    … 3.4 Problems for direct realism
  4. Phenomenalism
  5. Russell’s Hypothesis
    … 5.1 Nozick’s response
    … 5.2 The phenomenalist response
    … 5.3 The transcendental argument
    … 5.4 Conclusion
  6. Perceptual Memory and Justification

Paper Comment

For a précis, see this Note1.

Write-up2 (as at 14/03/2015 11:36:58): Dancy - Memory

This note provides my detailed review of "Dancy (Jonathan) - Memory".

Currently, this write-up is only available as a PDF. For a précis and analysis of the whole book, click File Note (PDF). It is my intention to convert this to Note format shortly, and to break it down by Chapter.

… Further details to be supplied3



In-Page Footnotes ("Dancy (Jonathan) - Memory")

Footnote 2:
  • This is the write-up as it was when this Abstract was last output, with text as at the timestamp indicated (14/03/2015 11:36:58).
  • Link to Latest Write-Up Note.


"Dancy (Jonathan) - Induction"

Source: Dancy - An Introduction to Contemporary Epistemology, 1985, Chapter 13


Sections
  1. Induction, Perception and Memory
  2. Two Conceptions of the Future
  3. Hume and his Critics
    … 3.1 Is the Circularity Vicious?
    … 3.2 Appeals to Analyticity
  4. Goodman’s New Riddle of Induction
  5. Coherentism and Induction

Paper Comment

For a précis, see this Note1.

Write-up2 (as at 14/03/2015 11:36:58): Dancy - Induction

This note provides my detailed review of "Dancy (Jonathan) - Induction".

Currently, this write-up is only available as a PDF. For a précis and analysis of the whole book, click File Note (PDF). It is my intention to convert this to Note format shortly, and to break it down by Chapter.

… Further details to be supplied3



In-Page Footnotes ("Dancy (Jonathan) - Induction")

Footnote 2:
  • This is the write-up as it was when this Abstract was last output, with text as at the timestamp indicated (14/03/2015 11:36:58).
  • Link to Latest Write-Up Note.


"Dancy (Jonathan) - A Priori Knowledge"

Source: Dancy - An Introduction to Contemporary Epistemology, 1985, Chapter 14


Sections
  1. Foundationalism and A Priori Knowledge
  2. Empiricism. The A Priori and the Analytic
  3. Can Synthetic Truths be Known A Priori?
  4. A Priori Knowledge and Universal Truth
  5. A Priori Knowledge and Necessary Truth
  6. Quine and the Distinction between A Priori and Empirical
  7. A Coherentist Approach
    … 7.1 Hume’s view
    … 7.2 Quine’s view
    … 7.3 Blanchard’s view

Paper Comment

For a précis, see this Note1.

Write-up2 (as at 14/03/2015 11:36:58): Dancy - A Priori Knowledge

This note provides my detailed review of "Dancy (Jonathan) - A Priori Knowledge".

Currently, this write-up is only available as a PDF. For a précis and analysis of the whole book, click File Note (PDF). It is my intention to convert this to Note format shortly, and to break it down by Chapter.

… Further details to be supplied3



In-Page Footnotes ("Dancy (Jonathan) - A Priori Knowledge")

Footnote 2:
  • This is the write-up as it was when this Abstract was last output, with text as at the timestamp indicated (14/03/2015 11:36:58).
  • Link to Latest Write-Up Note.


"Dancy (Jonathan) - Is Epistemology Possible?"

Source: Dancy - An Introduction to Contemporary Epistemology, 1985, Chapter 15


Sections
  1. Hegel
  2. Chisholm and the Problem of the Criterion
  3. Quine and the Non-Existence of First Philosophy
  4. Epistemology Naturalised
  5. Conclusion

Paper Comment

For a précis, see this Note1.

Write-up2 (as at 14/03/2015 11:36:58): Dancy - Is Epistemology Possible?

This note provides my detailed review of "Dancy (Jonathan) - Is Epistemology Possible?".

Currently, this write-up is only available as a PDF. For a précis and analysis of the whole book, click File Note (PDF). It is my intention to convert this to Note format shortly, and to break it down by Chapter.

… Further details to be supplied3



In-Page Footnotes ("Dancy (Jonathan) - Is Epistemology Possible?")

Footnote 2:
  • This is the write-up as it was when this Abstract was last output, with text as at the timestamp indicated (14/03/2015 11:36:58).
  • Link to Latest Write-Up Note.

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