The Structure of Empirical Knowledge

How must our knowledge be systematically organized in order to justify our beliefs? There are two options—the solid securing of the ancient foundationalist pyramid or the risky adventure of the new coherentist raft. For the foundationalist like Descartes each piece of knowledge can be stacked to build a pyramid. Not so, argues Laurence BonJour. What looks like a pyramid is in fact a dead end, a blind alley. Better by far to choose the raft. Here BonJour sets out the most extensive antifoundationalist argument yet developed. The first part of the book offers a systematic exposition of foundationalist views and formulates a general argument to show that no variety of foundationalism provides an acceptable account of empirical justification. In the second part he explores a coherence theory of empirical knowledge and argues that a defensible theory must incorporate an adequate conception of observation. The book concludes with an account of the correspondence theory of empirical truth and an argument that systems of empirical belief which satisfy the coherentist standard of justification are also likely to be true.

Review :
In this unpretentious, well-written study Laurence BonJour…rejects foundationalist theories of epistemic justification and sees no alternative to a coherence theory, the main features of which he goes on to elaborate. Clearly this is a major project… We are offered thought-provoking glimpses of the blueprints for certain large components, most notably a defense of internalism in the theory of justification, a coherentist notion of observation, and an appeal to a priori knowledge of probabilities in the ‘metajustification’ of a coherence theory… The virtues of this book include lucid writing, perspicuous organization, and careful argumentation. An important work… A penetrating analysis of difficulties in the major types of foundationalist theory and a defense of a novel version of the coherence theory of epistemic justification… A valuable work that will repay close examination by anyone concerned with what may well be the single most important problem in the theory of knowledge. BonJour develops what is undoubtedly the strongest version of a coherence theory of epistemic justification that has been produced. The entire work is outstanding for the way BonJour bends over backward to formulate and answer objections to his positions. This is a very fine work, something people will be reading and reacting to for some time to come. This book is a significant contribution. The overall structure of the book is well conceived. Each step in the argument is clearly motivated and many of the steps are original… The writing style is straightforward, clear, and polished. The Structure of Empirical Knowledge is important as a very lucid and perceptive treatment of the coherence/foundations controversy. Thorough and careful, it is also well conceived and well written and does not get lost in details. It should be of interest to philosophers of every persuasion.