The Epistemology of Reading and Interpretation

This philosophical work offers a rigorous examination of how reading functions as a distinct source of knowledge, carefully distinguishing it from perception and testimony as unique epistemic pathways. Van Woudenberg systematically analyzes seven different accounts of interpretation, creating a structured framework for understanding how we derive meaning from texts. The exploration moves beyond academic reading to consider how textual interpretation operates across all domains of human engagement with written words. This investigation addresses fundamental questions about whether all reading inherently involves interpretation and what makes textual understanding a special category of knowing.

What makes this philosophical text compelling is its methodical approach to untangling complex epistemic relationships that most readers take for granted. Van Woudenberg's careful distinctions provide valuable insights for students of epistemology, literary theory, and anyone interested in the philosophy of language. The book serves as an important contribution to understanding how we come to know things through engagement with texts, bridging theoretical philosophy with practical reading experiences. Readers will emerge with a deeper appreciation for the sophisticated cognitive processes that underlie even our most ordinary encounters with the written word.