Research Group
in Analytic Philosophy

Abstract

Western analytic epistemology is undergoing an upheaval: the importance of social justice concerns are becoming increasingly recognized: several of us are fed up with the navel gazing of classical analytic epistemology: we want epistemology to reflect our lived experiences, and do real work for us on issues that matter. Such researchers focus on ameliorating our epistemic concepts: finding ones that are more socially just. At the same time, however, many epistemologists claim that their project is purely metaphysical, and thus value-neutral: epistemology is just about the truth, the facts! Ethics and politics thus have no place in epistemology proper. I will argue that, despite appearances to the contrary, these projects are not in conflict. Indeed, in order to properly carry either project out it must be done in an integrated way with the other. I’ll show how only an integrative epistemology can help to resolve both classical analytic disputes and support our understanding and healing of public discourse.