The Web of Belief (Paperback)

by W. V. Quine (Author), J. S. Ullian (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
A compact, coherent introduction to the study of rational belief, this text provides points of entry to such areas of philosophy as theory of knowledge, methodology of science, and philosophy of language. The book is accessible to all undergraduates and presupposes no philosophical training.

Product Details

• Paperback: 147 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages; 2nd edition (February 1, 1978)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0075536099
• ISBN-13: 978-0075536093
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #40,882 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very much worth the challenge, September 19, 2005

By	Theodore Andre (Ventura, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Williard V. Quine (1908-2000), a brilliant mathematician and philosopher from Akron, Ohio and Joseph S. Ullian (1930-), currently a professor of philosophy at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, composed The Web of Belief for "freshmen courses in English" (p. v) in 1970. The small book contains 145 pages divided into ten chapters that look promising but quickly become intimidating.

The Web of Belief is worth one's time and effort, because The Web of Belief introduces the reader to the goodness of "science" ("Intro.", p. 3), encourages us to weed-out our "conflicting beliefs" (Ch. 2, p. 14), teaches us to appreciate our intuitions since it is "impossible" to prove "every reasonable belief" (Ch. 7, p. 92), and encourages us to find "a common ground of beliefs" when arguing with a person in order to "minimize effort for ourselves" (Ch. 10, p. 129). I particularly welcome this last bit of advice.

Chapter Seven, "Hypothesis", is the goal toward which the first six chapters are headed and is definately worth the price of the book. It is here that Quine and Ullian distinguish an "Observation" and the "direct evidence of the senses" (p. 21) from a "Hypothesis" which is an "enlightened guess" (p. 65), "a plausible story" (p. 66). Chapter Eight, "Confirmation and Refutation", completes chapter seven and discusses how a plausible story and a hypothesis becomes a true "law" of science (p. 98).

For a person who agrees that it is good to think clearly, carefully and independently and who wishes to take the mind seriously, I strongly recommend this book as well as anything written by Aristotle.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still wonderfully useful as an introduction, October 6, 2004

By	W. Jamison "William S. Jamison" (Eagle River, Ak United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Considering the many years since this was first written as "a compact introduction to the study of rational belief" it has wonderfully survived as a gem of a little book. Philosophy is a difficult subject to start. If a course starts with ancient philosophy, besides the challenge of critical thinking, there are cultural issues, translation issues, and the matter of explaining contemporary relevance. All of those issues are avoided with this book. It is a clear description of terms necessary for rational thought studiously written by a master logician for beginning students. It is also a wonderful introduction to Quine.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Approached as a textbook, this work shines, December 19, 2004

By	David Illescas - See all my reviews

Approached as a textbook, this work by Quine and that other guy stands out as an unusual piece that does just enough to interest the reader in the field, without being tedious and overwhelming.
The book is lucidly written, in relatively short and simple sentences. It is extremely well-organized, etc. Since philosophy is a difficult and complex subject, the degree of clarity that is achieved in the text is impressive and even aesthetically pleasing.
One can make sense out of the book if one treats it as outlining a particular point of view: that of the thinker who sees her intellectual habits as further developments of thought processes and methods that emerge as one tries to make sense out of all facets of life. This willingness to promote philosophy--and science--as fields that contribute to one's ability to make sense out of one's situation shows up, in however subdued a fashion, in the authors' willingness to present philosophy as something that is actively carried out in the real world, about the real world, with members of the real world. The subject matter is not reduced to abstractions.
Overall, worth reading as it will orientate everyone to contemporary philosophy.