“Conceptions of Knowledge” is the fourth volume of the series Berlin
Studies in Knowledge Research. The Berlin Studies are a project which is
published in co-operation with the Innovationszentrum Wissensforschung
(IZW, Center for Knowledge Research) of the Technische
Universität Berlin (Technical University Berlin) and the publishing
house Walter de Gruyter.
The IZW pursues an inter- and transdisciplinary knowledge research
project. Viewed from a philosophical point of view, the focus
is on an extensive multifaceted reorientation of analytical epistemology.
In this regard, the reader is referred also to the series’ first two volumes
“Rethinking Epistemology”. With reference to the present volume reorientation
stands among other things for the discussion of the pragmatic
aspects of knowledge – Pragmatic aspects which try to remove a methodical
constriction of classical epistemology. Three of these pragmatic aspects
which all revolve around the relationship between knowing and acting
may be suggested at this point:
a) the focus on (the concept of) epistemic abilities as that which precedes
knowledge or as that which it consists in;
b) the emphasis on the contextual and discursive aspects of knowledge
and justification with reference to their nature and their relevance
for the discussion with the skeptic;
c) the account of the variety of forms of knowledge, for instance animal,
phenomenal, or practical knowledge.
The reader will not fail to notice that not all of the texts can be made fit
into this pragmatic framework. This is intentional. The IZW is, moreover,
anxious to generate a discourse on various methodological ways of
proceedings and approaches within epistemology. It is to be hoped that
the present project may contribute its share to this.
My thanks go to the IZW and to the publishing house Walter de
Gruyter for making the realization and publication of this volume possible.
My special thanks go to Günter Abel, Claudio Roller and Gertrud
Grünkorn.