Applied Epistemology
Florida International University · Upper-level undergraduate
Readings in sequence, by unit.
Introduction
- What Is Epistemology? Rowlands, “A Right to Believe?” Optional: Nagel, Knowledge: A Very Short Introduction, ch. 1
- The Skeptical Challenge Descartes, Meditations, Meditation 1
- Canvassing Responses to Skepticism Nagel, Knowledge: A Very Short Introduction, ch. 2
Unit 1 · Irrelevant Influences and Disagreement
- The Problem of Upbringing Cohen, “Paradoxes of Conviction”
- Irrelevant Influences and the Possibility of Justified Beliefs Vavova, “Irrelevant Influences” (excerpts)
- The Moral Dimension to Irrelevant Influences Flowerree, “When to Psychologize”
- The Problem of Disagreement Feldman, “Reasonable Religious Disagreements”
- Permissivism Schoenfield, “Permission to Believe” (excerpts)
Unit 2 · Deference, Partisanship, and Bias
- Don’t Critically Think! Huemer, “Is Critical Thinking Epistemically Responsible?”
- In Defense of Critical Thinking Hazlett, “The Social Value of Non-Deferential Belief” (excerpts)
- Expert Deference: Who to Trust Goldman, “Experts: Which Ones Should You Trust?”
- Partisan Deference Rini, “Fake News and Partisan Epistemology”
- The Problem of Partisanship Joshi, “What Are the Chances You’re Right About Everything?”
- Motivated Reasoning Carter & McKenna, “Skepticism Motivated”
- Media Bias Worsnip, “The Obligation to Diversify One’s Sources”
Unit 3 · Echo Chambers, Polarization, and Conspiracy Theories
- Echo Chambers Nguyen, “Escape the Echo Chamber”
- Are Echo Chambers Bad? Lackey, “Echo Chambers, Fake News, and Social Epistemology”
- Polarization Lynch, “Polarization and the Problem of Spreading Arrogance”
- Conspiracy Theories Pigden, “Conspiracy Theories and Conventional Wisdom”
- Conspiracy Theories and Evidential Self-Insulation Napolitano, “Conspiracy Theories and Evidential Self-Insulation”
- Conspiracy Theories and Epistemic Vices Cassam
- The Situationist Challenge: QAnon Watch: Troemel, “The QAnon Report”
Unit 4 · Broadening the Scope of Epistemology
- Problems of Justice in Testimony Fricker, Epistemic Injustice, §1.3
- Standpoint Epistemology I Toole, “Demarginalizing Standpoint Epistemology”
- Standpoint Epistemology II Dror, “Is There an Epistemic Advantage to Being Oppressed?”