Knowledge in a Social World

by Alvin I. Goldman

This text offers a philosophy for the information age. Alvin Goldman explores frontiers by creating a thoroughgoing social epistemology, moving beyond the traditional focus on solitary knowers. Social, cultural and technological changes present challenges to our ways of knowing and understanding, and philosophy must face these challenges. Against the tides of postmodernism and social constructionism, Goldman defends the integrity of truth and shows how to promote it by well-designed forms of social interaction. He urges that social discourse promises more than the mere politics of consensus, and that suitably norm-governed debate and belief-revision can increase veridical knowledge. Goldman's aims are not just philosophical but practical. From science to education, from law to democracy, he shows why and how public institutions should seek knowledge-enhancing practices. He examines how cyberspace and other technologies expand the scope of communication, and warns of the need to safeguard content quality. He scrutinizes the free marketplace of ideas, the adversary system in the law, and media coverage of political campaigns.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction

424 pages, Hardcover

First published January 14, 1999

About the author

Alvin Ira Goldman was an American philosopher who was emeritus Board of Governors Professor of Philosophy and Cognitive Science at Rutgers University in New Jersey and a leading figure in epistemology.

Reviews

[Maryam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goldman writes so clear and simple in a way that you could easily follow his argument, even if you wouldn't agree with him; he sticks too much to the notion of 'veritistic' epistemology.

[Pavlogreen]

Este libro, una de las piedras fundacionales de la epistemología social, es enjundioso y con mucho material para diseccionar y reflexionar. Curiosamente, me interesan y me han atraído más las partes que menos directamente tienen que ver con la epistemología social y están más centradas en asuntos cercanos. Me han gustado mucho sus críticas a la epistemología posmoderna, su enmienda a la idea del libre mercado de las ideas, sus reflexiones en torno a la filosofía de la ciencia y la educación y la multiculturalidad. Lo tocante a epistemología social pura y dura oscila entre lo curioso y lo medianamente provechoso y creo que los desarrollos posteriores han profundizado más y mejor en la disciplina, pero hay que reconocer el valor que tiene y la potencia filosófica de Goldman, sin duda uno de los pensadores más relevantes de la filosofía analítica y contemporánea en general. Son páginas sesudas y muy técnicas, pero para alguien con interés por la epistemología (social) como es mi caso, imprescindible.

[An Te · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first chapter alone is dazzling and disarms the barbs of the postmodern critiques of knowledge. A book concerned with epistemology; an activity we are all committed to. A must-read book for it concerns the nature of knowledge and how we can obtain it. Using it for sound methodological grounding for a PhD thesis. Very helpful writing and presentation of ideas with lucid reasons and memorable examples. Vital words are contained in this tome.