Knowledge and Practical Interests

Knowledge and Practical Interests by Jason Stanley, published in 2005, is a groundbreaking work in epistemology that argues for a close connection between what we know and what is practically at stake for us. In this influential book, Stanley defends a view known as interest-relative invariantism, the idea that whether a person knows something can depend on their practical circumstances—even if all the truth-relevant factors remain the same.

Challenging traditional theories that treat knowledge as independent of context, Stanley draws on insights from both philosophy and linguistics to show how practical concerns can influence the application of knowledge attributions. He addresses key debates around skepticism, contextualism, and the semantics of knowledge claims, offering a powerful account that bridges abstract epistemology with real-life decision-making.

Accessible yet rigorous, Knowledge and Practical Interests reshaped the landscape of contemporary epistemology, prompting renewed interest in how our goals, risks, and responsibilities interact with what we claim to know. It's essential reading for anyone interested in how knowledge operates in everyday life and practical reasoning.

Product Details:

• ISBN: 0199230439
• EAN: 9780199230433
• Publisher: Clarendon Press
• Binding: Paperback
• Copyright Date: 2007
• Pub Date: January 06, 2008
• Physical Info: 1.78 cms H x 19.81 cms L x 13.21 cms W (0.23 kgs), 204 pages