The End of Epistemology As We Know It

Brian Talbot's book "The End of Epistemology As We Know It" argues that epistemic norms should be replaced with norms that matter more, such as success, reasons, and justification aimed at the good enough. These new norms will require us to form seemingly bad beliefs to improve other beliefs, and sometimes allow our beliefs to be bad for no reason whatsoever. This opens the door for new projects in epistemology and reveals the need for new accounts of epistemic goodness and rationality.

Format: Hardback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 26 February 2024
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

In his book "The End of Epistemology As We Know It," Brian Talbot delves into the significance of epistemic norms and highlights their shortcomings when understood in the traditional manner. He argues that we can and should replace existing norms with ones that hold greater importance. These replacement norms will differ significantly from the norms commonly accepted by philosophers.

Regardless of our beliefs about various topics or the reasons behind them, the importance of epistemic norms remains unaffected. When our beliefs do hold significance, it is often not crucial that they are true but rather that they are sufficient for our purposes. In cases where truth is not the primary concern, truth-related epistemic notions such as reliability, evidence, coherence, accuracy, or knowledge lose their normative significance. Even when truth holds immense importance, Talbot contends that the standard epistemic norms fail to adequately aim for it. They do not permit us to sacrifice one true belief for the sake of others.

Given these considerations, Talbot proposes that epistemic norms that genuinely matter should be replaced with conceptions of success, reasons, and justification aimed at achieving what is good enough. These new norms will necessitate forming seemingly bad beliefs that violate all standard norms by going against our evidence, being incoherent, or even being clearly false. In fact, they may sometimes allow our beliefs to be bad for no apparent reason. These arguments present exciting opportunities for new projects in epistemology. They highlight the need for developing fresh accounts of epistemic goodness and rationality.

In conclusion, Talbot's book challenges our understanding of epistemic norms and suggests that we can and should replace them with norms that prioritize what matters. These replacement norms will deviate from the traditional norms and may require us to hold beliefs that defy standard conventions. However, by doing so, we can improve our beliefs and advance our understanding of epistemology.

Weight: 430g
Dimension: 146 x 217 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197743638