Evidence and Inquiry

Described by Hilary Putnam as "both a fine introduction and a significant contribution" to epistemology, and by Anthony Quinton as "at once comprehensive ... and judicious," Evidence and Inquiry is unique both in its scope and in its originality. C. I. Lewiss foundationalism, BonJours and Davidsons coherentism, Poppers critical rationalism, Quines naturalism, and Rortys, Stichs, and Churchlands anti-epistemological neopragmatism all come under Haacks uniquely thorough critical scrutiny. Core epistemological questions about the nature of belief, the character and structure of evidence, the determinants of evidential quality, the relation of justification, probability, and truth, among others, are given refreshingly novel, and reasonable, answers.Most books in epistemology are written only for other epistemologists. But Evidence and Inquiry has proven of interest not only to specialists but also to many other readers, from thoughtful scientists to thoughtful scholars of law and literature.This new, expanded edition-with a substantial new foreword and several additional papers on topics ranging from feminist epistemology to Peirces critique of the adversarial legal system and Benthams critique of exclusionary rules of evidence-should attract longtime readers and newcomers alike.