The Philosophy of Expertise - by Robert Crease & Evan Selinger (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

From the use of expert testimony in the courtroom to the advice we rely on to solve key economic, political, and social problems, expertise is an essential part of our decision-making process. However, the extent to which experts can be trusted is a subject of persistent and contentious debate.

The Philosophy of Expertise is the first collection to explore the fundamental philosophical issues surrounding these authorities and their expert knowledge. Part 1 considers the problems surrounding the issue of trust and deference; part 2 launches a phenomenological clarification of expertise that pinpoints the universal structures embodied in cognition and affect; and part 3 examines the consequences of the social and technical externalization of expertise.

Contributors including Edward Said, Alvin Goldman, Peter Singer, Hubert Dreyfus, Julia Annas, Harry Collins, and Don Ihde draw on a number of intellectual approaches to explore the justification of expert authority, the potentially dangerous role of expertise in a liberal democratic society, how laypeople can critique experts, and the social and ideological character of expert advice. The contributors also discuss the reasoning process of judges and juries, the ancient Greek view of moral conduct, and the incorporation of experts into governmental bureaucracy.

By honestly tackling the legitimacy and consistency of various positions, this volume sheds much-needed light on the theoretical dimensions of a controversial and pervasive practice.

Contributors: Alvin I. Goldman, Don Ihde, Edward Said, Evan Selinger and John Mix, Evan Selinger and Robert P. Crease, H. M. Collins and Robert Evans, Hélène Mialet, Hubert Dreyfus, John Hardwig, Julia Annas, Paul Feyerabend, Peter Singer, Scott Brewer, Steve Fuller, Steven Turner

Review Quotes

The Philosophy of Expertise will catalyse the philosphical debate on expertise. It is certainly very well suited to do so.--Vanessa Morlock "Interdisciplinary Science Reviews"

[This book] should be on the shelves of all philosophers interested in science, and even more of all scientists interested in how their discipline is perceived by the general public.--Massimo Pigliucci "The Quarterly Review of Biology"

A first-rate collection... Their anthology will justifiably become the reference of choice for those interested in expertise.--Ben Almassi "Ethics"

A pioneering volume.--Christopher Hamlin "Public Understanding of Science"

Overall, this stimulating collection is crisply introduced and thoughtfully compiled.--Erik Fisher "Isis"

About the Author

Robert P. Crease is a professor of philosophy at the State University of New York, Stony Brook, and has written extensively on issues at the intersection of science and society.

Evan Selinger is assistant professor of philosophy at the Rochester Institute of Technology and is the editor of Chasing Techno-Science: Matrix for Materiality and coeditor of Expanding Phenomenology: A Critical Companion to Ihde.