The Value of Knowledge and the Pursuit of Understanding

Know about the book -

The Value of Knowledge and the Pursuit of Understanding is written by Jonathan L. Kvanvig and published by Cambridge University Press. It's available with International Standard Book Number or ISBN identification 1139442287 (ISBN 10) and 9781139442282 (ISBN 13).

Epistemology has for a long time focused on the concept of knowledge and tried to answer questions such as whether knowledge is possible and how much of it there is. Often missing from this inquiry, however, is a discussion on the value of knowledge. In The Value of Knowledge and the Pursuit of Understanding Jonathan Kvanvig argues that epistemology properly conceived cannot ignore the question of the value of knowledge. He also questions one of the most fundamental assumptions in epistemology, namely that knowledge is always more valuable than the value of its subparts. Taking Platos' Meno as a starting point of his discussion, Kvanvig tackles the different arguments about the value of knowledge and comes to the conclusion that knowledge is less valuable than generally assumed. Clearly written and well argued, this 2003 book will appeal to students and professionals in epistemology.