Ryle's Knowing-How, and Knowing How to Act

Abstract

Book synopsis: All essays are previously unpublished and are written by leading figures in contemporary philosophy and linguistics. Contains interdisciplinary articles discussing recent empirical research (e.g., the psychology of skill) and state of the art linguistic theory (e.g., Construction Grammar). Several essays discuss Ryle's legacy and explore the notion of practical knowledge in Greek philosophy, tracing the origins of the contemporary debate and inspiring the topic with a historical perspective. Knowledge how to do things is a pervasive and central element of everyday life. Yet it raises many difficult questions that must be answered by philosophers and cognitive scientists aspiring to understand human cognition and agency. What is the connection between knowing how and knowing that? Is knowledge how simply a type of ability or disposition to act? Is there an irreducibly practical form of knowledge? What is the role of the intellect in intelligent action? This volume contains fifteen state of the art essays by leading figures in philosophy and linguistics that amplify and sharpen the debate between intellectualists and anti-intellectualists about mind and action, highlighting the conceptual, empirical, and linguistic issues that motivate and sustain the conflict. The essays also explore various ways in which this debate informs central areas of ethics, philosophy of action, epistemology, philosophy of language, and philosophy of mind and cognitive science. Knowing How covers a broad range of topics dealing with tacit and procedural knowledge, the psychology of skill, expertise, intelligence and intelligent action, the nature of ability, the syntax and semantics of embedded questions, the mind-body problem, phenomenal character, epistemic injustice, moral knowledge, the epistemology of logic, linguistic competence, the connection between knowledge and understanding, and the relation between theory and practice. This is the book on knowing how—an invaluable resource for philosophers, linguists, psychologists, and others concerned with knowledge, mind, and action.