Oxford Handbook of Skepticism (Oxford Handbooks) (Hardcover)

by John Greco (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
In the history of philosophical thought, few themes loom as large as skepticism. Skepticism has been the most visible and important part of debates about knowledge. Skepticism at its most basic questions our cognitive achievements, challenges our ability to obtain reliable knowledge; casting doubt on our attempts to seek and understand the truth about everything from ethics, to other minds, religious belief, and even the underlying structure of matter and reality. Since Descartes, the defense of knowledge against skepticism has been one of the primary tasks not just of epistemology but philosophy itself.
The Oxford Handbook of Skepticism features twenty-six newly commissioned chapters by top figures in the field. Part One contains articles explaining important kinds of skeptical reasoning. Part Two focuses on responses to skeptical arguments. Part Three concentrates on important contemporary issues revolving around skepticism. As the first volume of its kind, the articles make significant contributions to the debate on skepticism.

About the Author
John Greco is an Associat Professor of Philosophy at Fordham University.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 624 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (September 22, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195183215
• ISBN-13: 978-0195183214
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #606,745 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Complete Introduction to Modern Skepticism Approaches, January 31, 2009

By	Jacob Kinnun (Lake Havasu City, Arizona, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Oxford Handbook of Skepticism is a very complete source on modern Skepticism. It is definitely not for an average reader, but for those who have taken a philosophy class in college or read a few philosophy papers it should be fine. With that said, I must say this is the best book on Skepticism out there. I was really impressed by the quality of the articles presented. And the whole text is done with the perspective of a modern philosopher. You won't get much in the vein of Pyrrho, Sextus Empiricus or Descartes, but you will get modern justifications and arguements of their philosophies. And these justifications and arguements are very deep. Any philosopher which claims certainty or truth will need to defend themselves against each arguement in the book, as it does contain the wide array of views modern Skeptics have. Now this book does take a neutral approach and has arguements against Skepticism as well (the reader might note, though, these arguements are like the classical type, they refute specific types of Skepticism and not general forms). So this book offers an array of views on Skepticism, and it is the best coverage on a philosophical point of view yet to date. Now the only thing Skepticism needs is a book written for non-philosophers that has the coverage and quality this does.