As a scholar of both religion and conspiracy theories, it was perhaps inevitable that Nicholas Smith’s (2022) recent article would catch my attention. Happily, I agreed with his conclusions in the main, but I was moved to respond nonetheless, as… Read More ›
social epistemology
Knowledge as a Weapon? Brian Martin
Can knowledge claims be used to attack? Yes. What should be done about it? That depends. These questions are inspired by Adam Riggio’s article “The Dangers of Intellectual Honesty in a World of Lies” (2022). There is quite a bit… Read More ›
Vaccination Disasters: The People v. Adam Riggio, A Reply, Lee Basham
“My argument … is fundamentally practical, but no less universal: that too many of our populations are unable to understand this truth [of the origins of HIV].” — Adam Riggio … [please read below the rest of the article]. Article Citation: Basham,… Read More ›
The Method of Convergent Realism, Part II, Chris Santos-Lang
Step 3: Provision of Means by which New Discoveries will Force Retesting Science, mathematics, and ethics each have a history in which some claims which were tested many lifetimes ago are now considered outdated. New background assumptions became available, and… Read More ›
The Method of Convergent Realism, Part I, Chris Santos-Lang
This essay seeks to advance a discussion to meet the needs of designers of technologies–including of institutions–which are meant to help users accurately answer questions about reality, including questions about nature and morality. Specifically, it helps clarify the list of… Read More ›
Caliphate and the Social Epistemology of Podcasts, Joshua Habgood-Coote
In “Caliphate’ and the Problem of Testimony,” Beba Cibralic (2020) argues that the New York Times (NYT) podcast Caliphate represents an epistemic failure that is similar in kind to its failures in reporting on weapons of mass destruction in the… Read More ›
Epistemic Responsibility and Culpable Ignorance: About Editorial and Peer Review in Practical Philosophy, Blas Radi
New Topics on Practical Philosophy In the last decades, some practical issues that traditionally were not part of the classical repertoire of philosophy have gradually won their place in universities and congresses. Trans issues are among them. The growing interest… Read More ›
Intellectual Virtues and Internet-Extended Knowledge, Paul R. Smart and Robert W. Clowes
Introduction We are grateful for Lukas Schwengerer’s contribution to the topic of Internet-extended knowledge. We greatly enjoyed reading his paper, “Online Intellectual Virtues and the Extended Mind,” (2020) which was the basis for many of the ideas rehearsed in the… Read More ›
Reflections on Boundary Work on Social Epistemology, Hanna Kiri Gunn
“Boundary work” refers to the practice of establishing and defining research areas, which in part involves locating research questions or topics within particular disciplines. As a consequence, boundary work also involves practices that put boundaries around ourselves as researchers of… Read More ›
Neurath’s Ship Meets Social Epistemology, Finn Collin
Otto Neurath’s (1944) oft-quoted simile about the battered sailors gives a precise depiction of the human condition. Like other animals, humans face constant threats to their survival, but, unlike them, we are not adapted to a particular natural environment in… Read More ›