Showing papers in "Social Epistemology in 2019"
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that universities remain the most important organisations involved in developing knowledge and providing means of social mobility, however, they are facing challenges from new providers facilita...
Abstract: Universities remain the most important organisations involved in developing knowledge and providing means of social mobility. However, they are facing challenges from new providers facilita...
33 citations
TL;DR: The authors argue that simulation methods can help address these, and other, methodological problems, because they can generate novel hypotheses about causal dependencies in a relatively cheap way, and can thus guide future empirical work.
Abstract: Intersectionality theory explores the peculiar disadvantages that arise as the result of occupying multiple disadvantaged demographic categories. Addressing intersectionality theory through quantitative methods has proven di�fficult. Concerns have been raised about the sample size one would need in order to responsibly tease out evidence for the claims of intersectionality theorists. What is more, theorists have expressed concern about our ability to formulate novel intersectional hypotheses in a non-ad-hoc manner. We argue that simulation methods can help address these, and other, methodological problems, because they can generate novel hypotheses about causal dependencies in a relatively cheap way, and can thus guide future empirical work. We illustrate this point using models which show that intersectional oppression
can arise under conditions where social groups are disadvantaged in the emergence of bargaining norms. As we show, intersectional disadvantage can arise even when actors from all social categories are completely identical in terms of preferences and abilities. And when actors behave in ways that reflect stronger intersectional identities, the potential for disadvantage increases. As we note, this exploration illustrates the usefulness of idealized models to real world inquiry.
27 citations
TL;DR: For instance, those who take "All lives matter" to oppose "Black lives matter", take the latter to mean something like "Only black lives matter". And those who regard this exclusionary construal as mistaken hold the...
Abstract: Those who take ‘All lives matter’ to oppose ‘Black lives matter’ take the latter to mean something like ‘Only black lives matter.’ Those who regard this exclusionary construal as mistaken hold the ...
26 citations
TL;DR: The authors argued in favour of two theses: (1) there is no such Threshold, and (2) there are no Such Thresholds in the First Amendment, in the first place.
Abstract: Taking some controversial claims philosopher Jason Brennan makes in his book Against Democracy (Brennan 2016) as a starting point, this paper argues in favour of two theses: (1) There is No Such Th...
19 citations
TL;DR: The political is changing its shape as discussed by the authors, and the political is no longer stable, but instead build hybrid combinations. Populism is getting popular. In addition, there are new forms of political experiences,...
Abstract: The political is changing its shape. Ideologies are no longer stable, but instead build hybrid combinations. Populism is getting popular. In addition, there are new forms of political experiences, ...
17 citations
TL;DR: In an era of neoliberal reforms, academics in UK universities have become increasingly enmeshed in audit as discussed by the authors and a new Teaching Excellent Framework (TEF) emerged in 2017 with results determined primarily by audit.
Abstract: In an era of neoliberal reforms, academics in UK universities have become increasingly enmeshed in audit. A new Teaching Excellent Framework (TEF) emerged in 2017 with results determined primarily ...
15 citations
TL;DR: Recently, there has been growing concern that increased partisanship in news sources, as well as new ways in which people acquire information, has led to a proliferation of epistemic bubbles and ec...
Abstract: Recently, there has been growing concern that increased partisanship in news sources, as well as new ways in which people acquire information, has led to a proliferation of epistemic bubbles and ec...
14 citations
TL;DR: The concept of the social imaginary has been introduced as an alternative to theories of the imagination as mentioned in this paper, where the imagination tends to be conceived as a faculty that we possess as individuals.
Abstract: The concept of the social imaginary has been introduced as an alternative to theories of the imagination. Whereas the imagination tends to be conceived as a faculty that we possess as individuals, ...
13 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a general framework for the critique of the university in crisis that originates in the Marxist tradition is introduced, based on the work of the authors of this paper.
Abstract: This article introduces a general framework for the critique of the university in crisis that originates in the Marxist tradition. After indicating the limitations of current proposals regarding th...
12 citations
TL;DR: In this article, Castoriadis' concept of the political imaginary is used as an invitation to reflect on the role of pictures in politics and in facilitating alternative policies, and the importance of images in this process.
Abstract: The article takes Cornelius Castoriadis’ concept of the ‘political imaginary’ as an invitation to reflect on the role of pictures in politics and in facilitating alternative policies. For this purp...
12 citations
TL;DR: The authors describe a phenomenon that has not yet been described in the epistemology literature, and they label this phenomenon expression-style exclusion, which is an example of how social in...
Abstract: I describe a phenomenon that has not yet been described in the epistemology literature. I label this phenomenon expression-style exclusion. Expression-style exclusion is an example of how social in...
TL;DR: Can we gain understanding from testifiers who themselves fail to understand? At first glance, this looks counter-intuitive as mentioned in this paper, and how could a hearer with a poor understanding of a certain subject matter,...
Abstract: Can we gain understanding from testifiers who themselves fail to understand? At first glance, this looks counter-intuitive. How could a hearer with a poor understanding of a certain subject matter,...
TL;DR: As one response to the secular crisis of capitalism, higher education is being proletarianised as discussed by the authors, its academics and students are shorn of autonomy beyond the sale of their labour-power.
Abstract: As one response to the secular crisis of capitalism, higher education is being proletarianised. Its academics and students are shorn of autonomy beyond the sale of their labour-power. One heuristic...
TL;DR: The primary goal of intelligence is to provide knowledge and foreknowledge of an enemy's intentions as mentioned in this paper, and evidence, beliefs, and knowledge are words that are currently used in the intelligence community.
Abstract: Evidence, beliefs, and knowledge are words that are currently used in the intelligence community. The primary goal of intelligence is to provide knowledge and foreknowledge of an enemy’s intentions...
TL;DR: The authors argue that the English view of rationality is tenable, and then argue that it has disastrous implications for van Fraassen's (1980) contextual theory of explanation, for the empiricist position that T is empirically adequate, and for scientific progress.
Abstract: Van Fraassen (2007, 2017) consistently uses the English view of rationality to parry criticisms from scientific realists. I assume for the sake of argument that the English view of rationality is tenable, and then argue that it has disastrous implications for van Fraassen’s (1980) contextual theory of explanation, for the empiricist position that T is empirically adequate, and for scientific progress. If you invoke the English view of rationality to rationally disbelieve that your epistemic colleagues’ theories are true, they might, in turn, invoke it to rationally disbelieve that your positive theories are true.
TL;DR: This paper explored how issues of race and prejudice permeate knowledge production and examined how traditional positivist practices, entrenched more deeply in traditional positivism, entrenched racism and prejudice in knowledge production.
Abstract: This article explores how issues of race and prejudice permeate knowledge production. By way of theory-driven processing, this article examines how traditional positivist practices, entrenched more...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore agnotology and ways of not knowing in the context of gender in engineering and present an empirically-emergent, three-part typology.
Abstract: This article explores agnotology and ways of not knowing in the context of gender in engineering. It presents an empirically-emergent, three-part typology of ways of not knowing about gender based ...
TL;DR: The need to elucidate hierarchy's deeper sources and its legitimations were some of the motivations behind Cornelius... as mentioned in this paper, who was a central concern of work on the modern political imaginary.
Abstract: Hierarchy has been a central concern of work on the modern political imaginary. The need to elucidate hierarchy’s deeper sources and its legitimations were some of the motivations behind Cornelius ...
TL;DR: The emergence of strongmen leaderships and eroded or failed democracies suggest that the era of unchallenged neoliberal hegemony may be winding down and that alternatives are rising as mentioned in this paper...
Abstract: Worldwide emergence of strongmen leaderships and eroded or failed democracies suggest that the era of unchallenged neoliberal hegemony may be winding down and that alternatives are rising. ...
TL;DR: In order to properly understand how expert disagreement should be dealt with, it is essential to grasp how expert opinion is used in the reasoning process by which humans reach conclusions and make decisions as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: In order to properly understand how expert disagreement should be dealt with, it is essential to grasp how expert opinion is used in the reasoning process by which humans reach conclusions and make...
TL;DR: For centuries, universities have supported the pursuit of knowledge through the academic disciplines while also preparing students for the professions as mentioned in this paper. But these two purposes are frequently in tension: they are often in tension.
Abstract: For centuries, universities have supported the pursuit of knowledge through the academic disciplines while also preparing students for the professions. These two purposes are frequently in tension:...
TL;DR: In a society marked by pervasive identity prejudice, even objects do not offer neutral facts as mentioned in this paper, and human beings as objects, and we are objects inter alia, offer information, even knowledge.
Abstract: Human beings as objects, and we are objects inter alia, offer information, even knowledge. And yet, in a society marked by pervasive identity prejudice, even objects do not offer neutral facts. Her...
TL;DR: The special issue of Social Epistemology has its origin in two symposia organized by the Contemporary Philosophy of Technology Research Group at the University of Birmingham (UK) as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: This special issue of Social Epistemology has its origin in two symposia organised by the Contemporary Philosophy of Technology Research Group at the University of Birmingham (UK). These were ‘The ...
TL;DR: The idea of the Anthropocene postulates that, epistemically and ontologically, we must consider the climatic, geological, and biological systems of the Earth as essentially bound up with the techno...
Abstract: The idea of the Anthropocene postulates that, epistemically and ontologically, we must consider the climatic, geological, and biological systems of the Earth as essentially bound up with the techno...
TL;DR: In this paper, a speech act theory of the phenomenon of dismissive incomprehension is developed, and its distinctive, and sometimes problematic perlocutionary character is analyzed, comparing it to more fully studied features of our social lives, including epistemic injustice and gaslighting.
Abstract: This paper analyses a particular social phenomenon whereby a speaker purports ignorance of the meaning of another speaker’s speech in order to undermine that other speaker: dismissive incomprehension. It develops a speech act theory of the phenomenon, and develops its distinctive, and sometimes problematic perlocutionary character. After taking a look at some of the issues surrounding the phenomenon, the paper compares it to more fully studied features of our social lives, including epistemic injustice and gaslighting. It ends with some thoughts on counteracting the problematic cases of dismissive incomprehension.
TL;DR: For example, this article pointed out that large numbers of Americans believe outlandish falsehoods that have been widely debunked, and many of us have a tendency to fault the individuals who hold such beliefs.
Abstract: Thanks to the advent of social media, large numbers of Americans believe outlandish falsehoods that have been widely debunked. Many of us have a tendency to fault the individuals who hold such beli...
TL;DR: The status of scientific knowledge in political liberalism is controversial. Although Rawls argued that the non-controversial methods and conclusions of science belong to the kind of reasons that ci...
Abstract: The status of scientific knowledge in political liberalism is controversial. Although Rawls argued that the noncontroversial methods and conclusions of science belong to the kind of reasons that ci...
TL;DR: The SCe project as discussed by the authors aims to identify the different factors that characterize the image of science held by entrepreneurs and business managers, explore the relation between science and entrepreneurship, and explore the relationship between the two.
Abstract: The ‘Scientific Culture at Enterprises’ (SCe) project aims to identify the different factors that characterize the image of science held by entrepreneurs and business managers, explore the relation...
TL;DR: A common philosophical account of expertise contends that the good of expertise lies in the fact that it is grounded in reliably true beliefs or knowledge in a domain and rejecting this tru... as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: A common philosophical account of expertise contends that (a) the good of expertise lies in the fact that it is grounded in reliably true beliefs or knowledge in a domain and (b) rejecting this tru...
TL;DR: The authors provide a remedy to a surprising lacuna in the current discussion in the epistemology of expertise, namely the lack of a theory accounting for the epistemic authority of coll...
Abstract: This paper attempts to provide a remedy to a surprising lacuna in the current discussion in the epistemology of expertise, namely the lack of a theory accounting for the epistemic authority of coll...