The Reliability of Sense Perception / William P. Alston.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Alston, William P., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Knowledge, Theory of.

Belief and doubt.

Senses and sensation.

Genre:

Electronic books.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (x, 148 p. )

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Ithaca, NY : Cornell University Press, [2018]

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

Why suppose that sense perception is an accurate source of information about the physical environment? More generally, is it possible to demonstrate that our basic ways of forming beliefs are reliable? In this book, a leading analytic philosopher confronts this classic problem through detailed investigation of sense perception, the source of beliefs in which we place the most confidence. Carefully assessing the available arguments, William P. Alston concludes that it is not possible to show in any noncircular way that sense perception is a reliable source of beliefs.Alston thoroughly examines the main arguments that have been advanced for the reliability of sense perception, including arguments from the various kinds of success we achieve by relying on the sense perception, arguments that some features of our sense experience are best explained by supposing that it is an accurate guide, and arguments that there is something conceptually incoherent about the idea that sense perception is not reliable. He concludes that all of these arguments that are not disqualified in other ways are epistemically circular, for they use premises based upon the very source in question. Alston then suggest that the most appropriate response to the impossibility of showing that our basic sources of beliefs are reliable is an appeal to the practical rationality of engaging in certain socially established belief-forming practices. The Reliability of Sense Perception will be welcome by epistemologists, cognitive scientists, and philosophers of science.

Contents:

Frontmatter

CONTENTS

PREFACE

Chapter 1. Introduction

Chapter 2. TRACK RECORD AND OTHER SIMPLE EMPIRICAL ARGUMENTS FOR RELIABILITY

Chapter 3. A PRIORI ARGUMENTS

Chapter 4. EMPIRICAL ARGUMENTS FOR THE RELIABILITY OF SP

Chapter 5. WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

BIBLIOGRAPHY

INDEX

Notes:

"Outgrowth of a part of my book Perceiving God ... c1991"--Pref.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [141]-143) and index.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 20. Sep 2019)

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

9781501720543

1501720546

OCLC:

1132227888