Frederick Irwin " Fred " Dretske (/ ˈdrɛtski /; December 9, 1932 – July 24, 2013) was an American philosopher noted for his contributions to epistemology and the philosophy of mind.

Dretske must either take on board the idea that information is closed under (known) entailment, or give up his theory of information. However, each alternative has shattering consequences.

Fred Dretske is an epistemologist who proposed in his 1971 essay "Conclusive Reasons," that evidence, grounds, and reasons should be considered as justifications for beliefs.

In Knowledge and the Flow of Information (1981), Dretske developed a sophisticated, elaborate, and technical account of information and its role in knowledge, thought, and perception. Building on his …

Information and Mind explores a range of topics that Fred Dretske addressed in his philosophical career.

In this lucid portrayal of human behavior, Fred Dretske provides an original account of the way reasons function in the causal explanation of behavior. Biological science investigates what makes our bodies …

Fred Dretske is a researcher at Duke University, Department of Philosophy. They are interested in Epistemology and Philosophy of Mind.

May 24, 2025 · Dretske’s theory shows how a rational organism can falsely represent objects and their properties in the world around it. The ability to learn from mistakes requires access to natural …

Developed the relevant-alternatives approach to knowledge and skepticism. Advocate of the account of intentionality in terms of information. Senior Research Scholar. Introduced the distinction between …

Frederick Irwin Dretske is a philosopher noted for his contributions to epistemology and the philosophy of mind. Recent work centers on conscious experience and self-knowledge. He was awarded the …