Ignorance

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