Here is a list of suggested readings for the class.
The readings on this list are not required, but you
may find them helpful in thinking about the topics
discussed in this course, or for writing your essays.
I am happy to suggest other readings if you wish
to pursue some question further.



Part I: Knowledge

Introduction
2 September


What is knowledge?
9 September, 16 September
A. Goldman, "Discrimination and perceptual knowledge"
R. Nozick, Philosophical Explanations, pages 167-179, 188-211
T. Williamson, Knowledge and its limits, Preface and Introduction


The value of knowledge
30 September
D. Pritchard, "The value problem for knowledge"
J. Kvanvig, The value of knowledge and the pursuit of understanding, Introduction


Skepticism about knowledge
7 October, 14 October
R. Descartes, First Meditation
G. E. Moore, "Certainty", "A defense of common sense", "Four forms of skepticism"
D. Lewis, "Elusive knowledge"
K. DeRose, "Solving the skeptical problem"


Part II: Belief and Justification

Foundationalism and Coherentism
28 October

Internalism and Externalism
4 November, 11 November
L. Bonjour and E. Sosa, Epistemic Justification: Internalism vs Externalism, Foundations vs Virtues

Part III: Alternatives

Experimental epistemology
18 November
New York Times, Discussion Forum, 23 August 2010, "Philosophy's New Take on Old Problems"
B. Myers-Schutz and E. Schwitzgebel, "Knowing that P Without Believing that P"

Feminist epistemology
25 November
E. Anderson, "Feminist Epistemology and Philosophy of Science"

Formal methods
Optional class, 2 December
W. Talbott, "Bayesian Epistemology"


Anthologies and Reference Books

Reading the articles in these edited collections of original works is a very good way to
learn about epistemology:

S. Bernecker and F. Dretske, eds., Knowledge: Readings in Contemporary Epistemology, Oxford, 2000.
M. Huemer, ed., Epistemology: Contemporary Readings, Routledge, 2002.
P. Moser and A. vander Nat, eds., Human Knowledge: Classical and Contemporary Approaches, 3rd ed, Oxford 2003.
L. Pojman, ed., The Theory of Knowledge: Classic and Contemporary Readings, 3rd ed., Wadsworth, 2002.
E. Sosa, J. Kim, J. Fantl and M. McGrath, eds., Epistemology: An Anthology, 2nd ed., Blackwell 2008.

Here are some useful reference books:

J. Dancy, E. Sosa and M. Steup, eds., A Companion to Epistemology, 2nd ed., Blackwell, 2010.
P. Moser, ed., The Oxford Handbook of Epistemology, Oxford, 2002.
E. Sosa and J. Greco, eds., The Blackwell Guide to Epistemology, Blackwell, 1999.


Introductory Books

I believe that it is intellectually important to work through original
works of philosophy, rather than relying on an introductory book.
That said, some of the following might be useful to some students:

L. Bonjour, Epistemology: Classic Problems and Contemporary Responses, Rowman & Littlefield, 2002.
J. Dancy, An Introduction to Contemporary Epistemology, Blackwell, 1985.
R. Feldman, Epistemology, Prentice-Hall, 2003.
R. Fumerton, Epistemology, Blackwell, 2006.
N. Lemos, An Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge, Cambridge, 2007.
J. Pollock and J. Cruz, Contemporary Theories of Knowledge, 2nd ed., Rowman & Littlefield, 1999.
L. Zagzebski, On Epistemology, Wadsworth, 2009.