{"product_id":"ignorance-on-the-wider-implications-of-deficient-knowledge-9780822960140","title":"Ignorance: (On the Wider Implications of Deficient Knowledge)","description":"Historically, there has been great deliberation about the limits of human knowledge. Isaac Newton, recognizing his own shortcomings, once described himself as \\u201ca boy standing on the seashore . . . whilst the great ocean of truth lay all underscored before me.\\u201d \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn Ignorance, Nicholas Rescher presents a broad-ranging study that examines the manifestations, consequences, and occasional benefits of ignorance in areas of philosophy, scientific endeavor, and ordinary life. Citing philosophers, theologians, and scientists from Socrates to Steven Hawking, Rescher seeks to uncover the factors that hinder our cognition. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eRescher categorizes ignorance as ontologically grounded (rooted in acts of nature-erasure, chaos, and chance-that prevent fact determination), or epistemically grounded (the inadequacy of our information-securing resources). He then defines the basis of ignorance: inaccessible data; statistical fogs; secreted information; past data that have left no trace; future discoveries; future contingencies; vagrant predicates; and superior intelligences. Such impediments set limits to inquiry and mean that while we can always extend our existing knowledge-variability here is infinite-there are things that we will never know. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eCognitive finitude also hinders our ability to assimilate more than a certain number of facts. We may acquire additional information, but lack the facility to interpret it. More information does not always increase knowledge; it may point us further down the path toward an erroneous conclusion. In light of these deficiencies, Rescher looks to the role of computers in solving problems and expanding our knowledge base, but finds limits to their reasoning capacity. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAs Rescher's comprehensive study concludes, ignorance itself is a fertile topic for knowledge, and recognizing the boundaries of our comprehension is where wisdom begins.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Nicholas Rescher\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e University of Pittsburgh Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 02\/28\/2009\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 160\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.45lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.20h x 5.50w x 0.60d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780822960140","brand":"University of Pittsburgh Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44135078854793,"sku":"9780822960140","price":50.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0636\/9240\/6921\/files\/img_c9265703-d22e-46db-a3db-4d04371418ab.jpg?v=1748394193","url":"https:\/\/sonsanddaughtersbooks.com\/products\/ignorance-on-the-wider-implications-of-deficient-knowledge-9780822960140","provider":"Sons and Daughters Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}