Ignorance

Rik Peels is known for his philosophical work on the ethics of belief, ignorance, scientism, and issues in the philosophy of religion. Over the last few years, he has been co-leader of various international projects funded by the Templeton World Charity Foundation. Increasingly, he addresses topics at the intersection of philosophy and empirical disciplines, such as replication in the humanities and the epistemic responsibilities of universities. He is currently leading a large research project, funded by the European Research Council, on the epistemology and ethics of extreme beliefs. He aims to synthesize empirical work with conceptual and normative approaches to fundamentalism, extremism, and conspiracy thinking.

Contents
Acknowledgments
List of Illustrations

1. Introduction: We Need to Know More about Ignorance
Introduction
A Brief History of the Philosophical Study of Ignorance
The Neglect of Ignorance in Epistemology
A New Approach to Ignorance
Overview of the Book


Part 1 The Epistemology of Ignorance

2. Kinds of Ignorance
Introduction
Propositional Ignorance
Objectual Ignorance
Practical Ignorance
Erotetic Ignorance
Ignorance and Understanding
Ignorance and Wisdom
The Nature of Ignorance and Its Contingent Properties
A Rival View: El Kassar on Ignorance
Conclusion

3. The Nature of Propositional Ignorance
Introduction
The Standard and New Views on Ignorance
Arguments for the Standard View
Arguments for the New View
Ignorance and the Duty to Inquire
The Epistemic Badness of Ignorance
Conclusion

4. Varieties of Propositional Ignorance
Introduction
Six Varieties of Ignorance
Further Varieties of Ignorance?
Objections and Replies
First- and Second-Order Ignorance
Disentangling the Varieties of Ignorance
Conclusion

5. Group Ignorance
Introduction
Two Cases: Fundamentalist and White Ignorance
Extrapolating from Group Belief?
The Dynamic Account of Group Ignorance
Objections and Replies
Conclusion

6. Degrees of Ignorance
Introduction
What Are Degrees?
Degrees of Propositional Ignorance
Degrees of Objectual Ignorance
Degrees of Practical Ignorance
Degrees of Group Ignorance
Conclusion


Part 2 Applying the Epistemology of Ignorance

7. Strategic Ignorance
Introduction
A New Conception of Ignorance in Agnotology?
The Standard and New Views on Strategic Ignorance
Strategic Ignorance as Group Ignorance
Kinds of Strategic Ignorance
Varieties of Strategic Ignorance
Degrees of Strategic Ignorance
Conclusion

8. White Ignorance
Introduction
A New Conception of Ignorance in the Philosophy of Race?
Kinds of White Ignorance
Varieties of White Ignorance
White Ignorance as Group Ignorance
Degrees of White Ignorance
Conclusion

9. Ignorance in Education
Introduction
Presenting Defeaters
Scaffolding
Promoting Understanding
Showing That the Student Does Not Know
Objectual Ignorance
Practical Ignorance
Group Ignorance
Conclusion

10. Ignorance That Excuses
Introduction
Excuses
Ignorance of What Excuses?
Does Normative Ignorance Excuse as Well?
Which Varieties of Ignorance Excuse?
Group Ignorance as an Excuse
Conclusion

11. The Roots of Culpable Ignorance
Introduction
Culpability
The Influence View
Two Rival Views: Compatibilism and Attributionism
The Origination Thesis
Influence and Culpable Ignorance
Objections and Replies
Ramifications
Conclusion

12. Asserting Ignorance
Introduction
Asserting Objectual and Practical Ignorance
Asserting the Varieties of Ignorance
Asserting Unwarranted Ignorance
Asserting Ignorance That Issues from Duty Violation
Asserting Group Ignorance
Inexpressible Ignorance and the Transparency View
Conclusion

Epilogue
References
Index