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. Lewis's foundationalism BonJour's and Davidson's coherentism Popper's critical rationalism Quine's naturalism and Rorty's Stich's and Churchland's anti-epistemological neopragmatism all come under Haack's 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 Peirce's critique of the adversarial legal system and Bentham's critique of exclusionary rules of evidence-should attract longtime readers and newcomers alike.