Between Probability and Certainty

Smith's book provides a highly original account of perhaps the central concept in epistemology, one that offers fertile ground for exploring just about every conceivable topic and idea of central interest to the field, new and old. I suspect that those who are newly introduced to the theory of knowledge will take to it like moths to a flame, and I hope that veterans will set aside their preconceptions and take it seriously as a force to be reckoned with. * Kelly Becker, Mind *
Martin Smiths Between Probability and Certainty is an outstanding work of philosophy: lucidly written, original, and compelling. Smith develops in detail a new conception of justification, an alternative to the familiar conception of justification as risk minimization. On the new conception, justification is a matter of normic support, i.e., a matter of having support that makes one safe from errors that could occur in the normal course of events. On datum after datum, Smith shows how the normic support conception outperforms the risk minimization conception. Particularly noteworthy is Smiths masterful use of formal models to approach philosophical issues. * Matthew McGrath, University of Missouri *
Smith is to be applauded for bringing the risk minimization view into focus. * Jose Luis Bermudez, Australasian Journal of Philosophy. *