Knowledge in a Social World

Knowledge in a Social World by Alvin Goldman, published in 1999, is a major contribution to social epistemology—the study of the social dimensions of knowledge. In this influential work, Goldman examines how knowledge is acquired, shared, and evaluated within social contexts, challenging the idea that epistemology should focus solely on individual cognition.

Drawing on both traditional epistemology and empirical research, Goldman explores topics such as testimony, disagreement, group deliberation, mass media, and education. He assesses how social practices and institutions can either promote or hinder the spread of knowledge, applying rigorous analytic methods to real-world issues like scientific inquiry, political discourse, and journalism.

Goldman defends a version of reliabilism, arguing that knowledge is best understood in terms of belief-forming processes that reliably lead to truth—even when those processes involve other people or systems. Knowledge in a Social World is widely regarded as a foundational text in social epistemology and continues to shape discussions about how knowledge operates within complex, interconnected societies.

Product Details:

• ISBN: 0198238207
• EAN: 9780198238201
• Publisher: OUP Oxford
• Binding: Paperback
• Copyright Date: 2003
• Pub Date: March 25, 1999
• Physical Info: 2.46 cms H x 23.32 cms L x 15.77 cms W (0.68 kgs), 422 pages