The topic of a priori knowledge has been central to analytic philosophy for the past two centuries. It was introduced by Kant in his seminal work Critique of Pure Reason and vigorously dismissed by Quine in Two Dogmas of Empiricism, resulting in an epistemological controversy that remains deeply divided to this day. Casullo''s book, based on previously published and unpublished work, systematically addresses questions that have, since Kant, formed the core of the debate. One of his central claims is that the concept of a priori has not been well understood and that many of the apparent differences that underlie much of the contemporary debate are a result of these misunderstandings. Casullo''s reformulation of this traditional debate is both original and persuasive, and should appeal to a wide range of philosophers who share an interest in epistemology.
Industry Reviews
"I have little doubt that the book will set the standard for discussions of the a priori within externalist epistemology for decades to come."--International Philosophical Quarterly
"I recommend careful study of Casullo's book to anyone interested in the epistemology of the a priori."--Mind
"This book really is a paradigm example of clear analytical philosophy. Page by page one is struck by the precision of the language, the way in which each subtlety or nuance in our rather hazy concepts in this respect is drawn out for further examination and slotted back again into its proper place in the conceptual architecture. ...an excellent book, on that will, I believe, set the benchmark for treatments of a priori justification for years to
come."--The Philosophical Quarterly
"An excellent treatise on a priori knowledge, based on longstanding expertise. It lucidly displays the problematic and thoroughly explores main options. An important contribution to the field, and a fine text for epistemology seminars and courses." Ernest Sosa, Brown University
"I expect this book to be the central work in the epistemology of the a priori for years to come. It provides detailed, penetrating, and judicious discussions of the major theses and arguments about the nature, possibility, and objects of a priori knowledge and justification. Casullo resolutely defends his own sophisticated and highly original view- version of externalism/reliabilism--but he also carefully takes into account what others have done, from Plato
and Kant to Quine and BonJour." Panayot Butchvarov, University of Iowa
"The arrival of Casullo's book is. . .a welcome addition to the contemporary literature. . . .detailed, judicious, and penetrating . . . I expect it to be the central work in the epistemology of the a priori for years to come."--Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews"
"I have little doubt that the book will set the standard for discussions of the a priori within externalist epistemology for decades to come."--International Philosophical Quarterly
"I recommend careful study of Casullo's book to anyone interested in the epistemology of the a priori."--Mind
"This book really is a paradigm example of clear analytical philosophy. Page by page one is struck by the precision of the language, the way in which each subtlety or nuance in our rather hazy concepts in this respect is drawn out for further examination and slotted back again into its proper place in the conceptual architecture. ...an excellent book, on that will, I believe, set the benchmark for treatments of a priori justification for years to
come."--The Philosophical Quarterly
"An excellent treatise on a priori knowledge, based on longstanding expertise. It lucidly displays the problematic and thoroughly explores main options. An important contribution to the field, and a fine text for epistemology seminars and courses." Ernest Sosa, Brown University
"I expect this book to be the central work in the epistemology of the a priori for years to come. It provides detailed, penetrating, and judicious discussions of the major theses and arguments about the nature, possibility, and objects of a priori knowledge and justification. Casullo resolutely defends his own sophisticated and highly original view- version of externalism/reliabilism--but he also carefully takes into account what others have done, from Plato
and Kant to Quine and BonJour."--Panayot Butchvarov, University of Iowa
"The arrival of Casullo's book is. . .a welcome addition to the contemporary literature. . . .detailed, judicious, and penetrating . . . I expect it to be the central work in the epistemology of the a priori for years to come."--Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews"