Mainstream and Formal Epistemology

Mainstream and Formal Epistemology provides the first, easily accessible, yet erudite and original analysis of the meeting point between mainstream and formal theories of knowledge. These two strands of thinking have traditionally proceeded in isolation from one another, but in this book, Vincent F. Hendricks brings them together for a systematic comparative treatment. He demonstrates how mainstream and formal epistemology may significantly benefit from one another, paving the way for a new unifying program of 'plethoric' epistemology. His book will both define and further the debate between philosophers from two very different sides of the epistemological spectrum.

Table of Contents:
Preface; 1. Introduction; 2. Priming the pump; 3. Mainstream epistemology; 4. Counterfactual epistemology; 5. Contextual epistemology; 6. Logical epistemology; 7. Computational epistemology; 8. Modal operator epistemology; 9. 'Plethoric' epistemology; Bibliography.

About the Author :
Vincent F. Hendricks is Professor of Formal Philosophy at Roskilde University, Denmark. He is the author of many books, including The Convergence of Scientific Knowledge, Thought 2 Talk and Formal Philosophy. Editor in Chief of Synthese and Synthese Library, he is also the founder of OLOG, The Network for Philosophical Logic and its Applications.

Review :
'Mainstream and Formal Epistemology is a very timely tour de force, bringing together mainstream epistemology and the modern logic-computational tradition in knowledge, learning, and agency. Using the unifying concept of 'forcing', it presents a clear and impassioned analysis of both static and dynamic aspects of cognition. ... [T]he author shows us a highway for new contacts between philosophy and its broader intellectual environment.' Johann van Benthem, University of Amsterdam and Stanford University '... Vincent Hendricks has done the philosophical community a major service by bringing several such important lines of thought together and by trying to synthesize them.' Jaakko Hintikka, Boston University '... a highly recommendable meta-epistemological study, presenting a unifying perspective on approaches like mainstream epistemology, epistemic logic, and computational theories of knowledge.' Heinrich Wansing, Dresden University of Technology '... This is a genuinely interesting and challenging work of philosophy, one that will both define and substantially further the debate between philosophers from these two very different sides of the epistemic spectrum for many years to come.' Duncan Pritchard, University of Stirling 'This interesting and original book connects a diverse range of approaches to the theory of knowledge that are rarely considered together ... Whether or not he succeeds in his ambitious aim of defeating the skeptic, [Vincent Hendricks] illuminates the issues by finding some unifying themes, and by showing that these contrasting projects have something to say to each other.' Robert Stainaker, Massachusetts Institute of Technology '... Hendrick's book is a must read for both mainstream and formal epistemologists.' Franz Huber, California Institute of Technology 'I am sure that Hendricks' book will remain as an important point of reference for interdisciplinary discussion in this and related areas of inquiry for years to come.' Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews '... a major contribution to epistemology.' Peter Ohrstrom, Aalborg University '... I want to stress the breadth of coverage and the depth of analysis of Mainstream and Formal Epistemology. It is a very original contribution to epistemology, to epistemic logic and to the philosophy of logic.' Studia Logica 'Vincent Hendrick's book is an interesting and original attempt to bring together different traditions in epistemology. ... [a] stimulating and valuable book.' Bulletin of Symbolic Logic