An Introduction to Historical Epistemology

This book introduces the issues of epistemology in their historical complexity by examining Francis Bacon's catalogue of the false sources of epistemic authority, the four idols. Successive chapters relate knowledge to language (idols of the market), speculation (idols of the theatre), perception (idols of the tribe) and social formations (idols of the cave). Placed back in its historical context epistemology is seen to be not a tradition which philosophy might leave behind, but an important part of the arena in which questions of cultural authority are worked out. Ancient Greek discussions of knowledge from Protagoras to Epicurus via Plato and Aristotle are introduced to illustrate the sense in which modern philosophy broke with ancient tradition while being at the same time conditioned by it. The Baconian vision was of human progress achieved through the acquisition of knowledge which makes domination of nature possible. The tensions inherent in this vision and the way in which they have worked to undermine it are illustrated by reference to the views of Kant and Hume and by tracing their consequences.