The Epistemic Dimensions Of Ignorance
by Martijn Blaauw /
2016 / English / PDF
3.6 MB Download
Ignorance is a neglected issue in philosophy. This is surprising
for, contrary to what one might expect, it is not clear what
ignorance is. Some philosophers say or assume that it is a lack of
knowledge, whereas others claim or presuppose that it is an absence
of true belief. What is one ignorant of when one is ignorant? What
kinds of ignorance are there? This neglect is also remarkable
because ignorance plays a crucial role in all sorts of
controversial societal issues. Ignorance is often thought to be a
moral and legal excuse; it is a core concept in medical ethics and
debates about privacy, and it features in religious traditions and
debates about belief in God. This book does not only study an
epistemic phenomenon that is interesting in itself, but also
provides important tools that can be fruitfully used in debates
within and beyond philosophy.
Ignorance is a neglected issue in philosophy. This is surprising
for, contrary to what one might expect, it is not clear what
ignorance is. Some philosophers say or assume that it is a lack of
knowledge, whereas others claim or presuppose that it is an absence
of true belief. What is one ignorant of when one is ignorant? What
kinds of ignorance are there? This neglect is also remarkable
because ignorance plays a crucial role in all sorts of
controversial societal issues. Ignorance is often thought to be a
moral and legal excuse; it is a core concept in medical ethics and
debates about privacy, and it features in religious traditions and
debates about belief in God. This book does not only study an
epistemic phenomenon that is interesting in itself, but also
provides important tools that can be fruitfully used in debates
within and beyond philosophy.
