The Theory Of Knowledge (Access To Philosophy)
by Peter Cole
Hodder & Stoughton, 2002; 86 pages.
Rating: A
A = A-level student (UK)/Freshman (US) - This book will be useful for those studying philosophy. It assumes that you will want a certain level of detail and coverage of the subject, and that you are not just reading it for pleasure. However, it is still an introductory text.
Peter Cole’s The Theory Of Knowledge (hereafter TOK) is an excellent little book. Aimed primarily at A-Level students, but suited also to any student new to the subject, each chapter is dedicated to a particular issue in the theory of knowledge – apart from Chapter 10, which is a brief overview of Descartes’s Meditations, illustrating some of the key points raised in the previous chapters. In fact, Descartes’s ideas also form a central part of Chapters 3 and 9, with occasional references throughout the text, making TOK a very useful mini-guide to Descartes, and a good way of linking between Descartes’s text and wider issues in the theory of knowledge.
The book has a straight-forward, textbook feel. Each chapter is arranged according to the same format: first there is a list of useful keywords, with simple definitions; then there a brief summary of what the chapter is about (the ‘Key Issue’); after this, the content is split up into subheadings (e.g. the chapter on perception has short sections on naïve realism, idealism, etc.); finally, at the end of each chapter, there is a ‘Study Guide’, briefly summarising the points covered, providing answers to questions raised during the chapter, and providing advice to students. Some of this last section is specific to the AQA Philosophy syllabus, which has now changed slightly, and whilst some of the material is still generally useful, parts of it are now out of date. Also, A-Level students and teachers should bear in mind that, whilst the text’s coverage is excellent in all other respects, it does not cover every aspect of the new A-Level syllabus (e.g. universals and particulars).
Peter Cole’s writing style is unpretentious and conversational, and the text is by no means dry - the general tone strikes a nice balance between serious and light-hearted. Each point is illustrated with examples drawn from everyday life, literature, film, etc., and arguments and ideas are set out very clearly – Kant, for instance, is explained extremely well (which is always a good indication of how well a philosopher writes!). There is occasional quotation from – and frequent reference to – relevant philosophers (past and present), and useful works referred to are listed in the Further Reading section at the end of the book (there are no footnotes, but each work quoted or referred to is acknowledged within the text, making it easy to track down). The text is frequently broken down into bullet points to list and describe theories, logical options, or steps in an argument; it uses diagrams and tables to illustrate key points, and there are also a small number of pictures used for decoration. One useful feature from a teacher’s perspective is the frequent use of flowcharts and spider diagrams, many of which could be easily adapted for classroom use (e.g. for a presentation or handout). There is a brief index at the end, listing the main themes and ideas, and some (but not all) of the philosophers mentioned.
In terms of the depth, detail and coverage, TOK manages to fit in quite a lot. As with any book of this size, it occasionally suffers from a tendency to pass over points too briefly. However, this is very seldom the case, and even such points present relevant ideas in context, allowing the reader to simply make a note of what he does not fully understand, and to follow it up by further reading and research.
In summary, TOK is a well-written and structured introduction to a difficult subject, presenting and analysing ideas and theories clearly and with sufficient detail for anyone to obtain a good grounding. Its textbook format will perhaps put off the layperson (who may prefer a more literary style), and those in the later stages of degree level study should really already be familiar with everything here. However, for A-Level students (with the minor reservation as regards being fully up to date), or any other student without a previous knowledge of this subject, this book is an ideal introduction. Its minor deficiencies are outweighed by the positive benefit of having the broad scope of the subject neatly and clearly laid out in a small book, and it is therefore highly recommended.
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