What is the epistemic crisis?: Difference between revisions

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~~== Question ==~~

''Written by AI. Help improve this answer by adding to the sources section. When the sources section is updated this article will regenerate.''

What is the epistemic crisis?

What is the cause of the epistemic crisis?

'''What is the epistemic crisis?'''

~~What~~ are ~~some examples~~ of ~~elite failure~~ the ~~caused~~ the ~~epistemic crisis?~~

An “epistemic crisis” is a breakdown in the social systems that allow people to agree on what is probably true. Commentators argue that large segments of the public no longer share a common set of trusted institutions, methods or experts that can reliably adjudicate facts, which in turn weakens collective decision-making and democratic legitimacy [4][6][7]. Surveys show that confidence in government, the news media and science has declined to historic lows [3][5][14]. Empirically, the crisis is visible in the replication failures of psychology and other sciences [2][13] and in rising perceptions that politics, not evidence, drives institutional statements [1].

'''What is the cause of the epistemic crisis?'''

Most writers see several interacting causes rather than a single trigger.

* Politicization of expertise. Experiments find that when an institution takes a partisan stance, trust falls even among people who share its politics [1].

* Declining reproducibility and transparency in research. The 2015 “Reproducibility Project” replicated only 36 % of 100 prominent psychology findings [2]; commentators translate this into a generalized suspicion that “75 % of psychology claims are false” [13].

* “Truth Decay.” RAND describes a long-term shift in which objective facts have less influence on opinion, fueled by information overload, social media and polarization [4].

* Media homogeneity and economic pressures. Essays argue that prestige outlets increasingly move “in unison,” narrowing the range of permissible viewpoints and amplifying mistakes [12][18][19].

* Elite performance failures. Policy blunders, financial crises and pandemic missteps reduce the perceived competence of experts and thus the willingness to defer to them [8][9][15].

* Feedback loop of distrust. Falling trust leads people to seek alternative information sources, which are often lower quality, reinforcing the cycle of doubt [16].

~~== Sources ==~~

'''What are some examples of elite failure that caused the epistemic crisis?'''

~~# https://arnoldkling.substack.com/p/an-~~epistemic-crisis

~~# https://www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/americas-epistemological-crisis~~

~~# https://www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/elite-failures-and-populist-backlash~~

~~# https://www.natesilver.net/p/the-expert-class-is-failing-and-so~~

~~# https://samkahn.substack.com/p/its-the-epistemology-stupid~~

~~# https://samharris.substack.com/p/the-reckoning~~

~~# https://www.persuasion.community/p/why-the-media-moves-in-unison~~

~~# https://unsafescience.substack.com/p/75-of-psychology-claims-are-false~~

~~# https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/10/28/jeff-bezos-washington-post-trust/~~

~~# https://www.slowboring.com/p/elite-misinformation-is-an-underrated~~

~~== Answer from Wikle ==~~

Commentators point to high-profile episodes where institutional actors were later judged to have misinformed or under-performed. The list below focuses on cases repeatedly cited across the sources.

~~The epistemic crisis refers~~ to ~~the current predicament~~ where ~~there is a significant lack of trust in shared sources of knowledge and information~~. ~~This crisis manifests as a widespread skepticism towards institutions previously considered as authorities~~ on ~~truth, such as~~ the media, academia, and government agencies (1,2). There is a pervasive questioning of the validity and reliability of their information, leading to a breakdown in the consensus about what constitutes truth and fact (2).

~~The causes of the epistemic~~ crisis ~~are multifaceted~~. ~~One significant factor is~~ the ~~proliferation of digital media~~, ~~which facilitates the spread~~ of ~~misinformation~~ and ~~disinformation, undermining trust in traditional sources of knowledge (1)~~. ~~The fragmentation of the~~ media ~~landscape has also led to the creation~~ of ~~"echo chambers~~,~~" where individuals~~ are ~~exposed primarily to views~~ that ~~reinforce their preexisting beliefs, further exacerbating~~ the ~~crisis (5). Moreover~~, ~~the crisis is fueled by~~ perceived ~~failures~~ of the ~~"elite" class~~, ~~including experts~~ and ~~institutions, in managing societal issues (3,4)~~.

* Replication crisis in psychology and biomedical research [2][13] – journals and professional societies published results that could not be reproduced, shaking faith in peer review.

* Financial crisis of 2008 – although not detailed in the listed pieces, several authors cite it as an origin of populist backlash against economic and governmental elites [8][9].

* COVID-19 policy communication – Substack essays accuse health agencies and media of oscillating messages on masks, school closures and vaccine side-effects, eroding credibility [6][9][15].

* Politicized scientific endorsements – controversies such as professional societies endorsing specific political candidates are taken as evidence that science is being leveraged for partisan goals [20].

* Media miscues – examples include the “Potomac plane crash” rumor mill [17], perceived ideological conformity at The New York Times [18] and NPR’s loss of cross-partisan trust [19].

* Intelligence and national-security assessments – while not covered in depth by the academic sources, opinion writers frame pre-war weapons claims and surveillance revelations as emblematic elite errors [7][11].

~~There are several examples of elite failure that have contributed to the epistemic crisis. One is the 2008 financial crisis, which was seen as a direct result of the elite~~'~~s negligence~~ and mismanagement, leading to a widespread distrust in their ability to make sound decisions (4). Additionally, many viewed the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic as another failure of the expert class, with perceived inconsistencies in guidance and policy contributing to public skepticism (4,6).

'''Conflicting views and ongoing discourse'''

~~The public discourse on~~ the ~~epistemic crisis is often contentious~~. ~~Some argue for a return to~~ trust in ~~expert opinion~~ and ~~traditional sources of information~~, ~~asserting~~ that the ~~crisis is largely a result of misinformation spread through social media (7)~~. ~~Others contend that~~ the ~~crisis~~ is a ~~necessary reckoning, forcing institutions to become more transparent and accountable (6)~~.

Not everyone accepts the “crisis” framing. Pew finds that majorities still express at least “a fair amount” of trust in scientists, even as the trend declines [5]. Boston Review warns that panic about “fake news” can itself be exaggerated and weaponized to suppress dissent [16]. Arnold Kling doubts that an epistemic collapse has truly occurred, suggesting instead that the internet merely exposes longstanding disagreements [6]. Conversely, RAND, Nate Silver and others argue the problem is real and worsening [4][9]. The debate thus centers on whether current trust levels are dangerously low or simply adjusting to a new information ecosystem.

~~The~~ epistemic crisis and ~~its causes~~ and ~~implications are topics of ongoing debate~~, ~~with divergent views among scholars~~, media ~~commentators, and~~ the ~~public~~ (1-7). The ~~complexity of~~ the ~~issue makes it difficult~~ to ~~find a consensus~~, ~~which in itself is a reflection of~~ the ~~crisis~~ at ~~hand~~.

== Sources ==

# [https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-3239561/v1 Politicization Undermines Trust in Institutions, Even Among the Ideologically Aligned Public – ''Research Square''] (2024 pre-print; Empirical research)

# [https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aac4716 Estimating the Reproducibility of Psychological Science – ''Science''] (2015 peer-reviewed replication study)

# [https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/06/24/public-trust-in-government-1958-2024 Public Trust in Government: 1958-2024 – ''Pew Research Center''] (Long-running survey report)

# [https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2314.html Truth Decay: An Initial Exploration of the Diminishing Role of Facts and Analysis in American Public Life – ''RAND Corporation''] (2018 research report / policy study)

# [https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2023/11/14/americans-trust-in-scientists-positive-views-of-science-continue-to-decline/ Americans’ Trust in Scientists, Positive Views of Science Continue to Decline – ''Pew Research Center''] (2023 survey report)

# [https://arnoldkling.substack.com/p/an-epistemic-crisis An Epistemic Crisis? – ''In My Tribe'' (Substack)] (Opinion / Essay)

# [https://www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/americas-epistemological-crisis America’s Epistemological Crisis – ''Conspicuous Cognition''] (Commentary essay)

# [https://www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/elite-failures-and-populist-backlash Elite Failures and Populist Backlash – ''Conspicuous Cognition''] (Commentary essay)

# [https://www.natesilver.net/p/the-expert-class-is-failing-and-so The Expert Class Is Failing, and So Is Biden’s Presidency – ''Silver Bulletin'' (Substack)] (Opinion / Essay)

# [https://samkahn.substack.com/p/its-the-epistemology-stupid It’s the Epistemology, Stupid – ''Sam Kahn'' (Substack)] (Opinion / Essay)

# [https://samharris.substack.com/p/the-reckoning The Reckoning – ''Sam Harris'' (Substack)] (Opinion / Essay)

# [https://www.persuasion.community/p/why-the-media-moves-in-unison Why the Media Moves in Unison – ''Persuasion''] (Opinion / Essay)

# [https://unsafescience.substack.com/p/75-of-psychology-claims-are-false 75 % of Psychology Claims Are False – ''Unsafe Science'' (Substack)] (Commentary / Replication-crisis analysis)

# [https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/10/28/jeff-bezos-washington-post-trust/ The Hard Truth: Americans Don’t Trust the News Media – ''The Washington Post''] (2024 Opinion / Op-Ed)

# [https://www.slowboring.com/p/elite-misinformation-is-an-underrated Elite Misinformation Is an Underrated Problem – ''Slow Boring''] (Opinion / Essay)

# [https://www.bostonreview.net/articles/the-fake-news-about-fake-news/ The Fake News About Fake News – ''Boston Review''] (Long-form analysis / Essay)

# [https://jessesingal.substack.com/p/how-to-know-who-to-trust-potomac How to Know Who to Trust, Potomac Plane Crash Edition – ''Jesse Singal'' (Substack)] (Commentary / Media criticism)

# [https://www.economist.com/1843/2023/12/14/when-the-new-york-times-lost-its-way When the New York Times Lost Its Way – ''1843 Magazine'' (''The Economist'')] (Magazine feature)

# [https://www.thefp.com/p/npr-editor-how-npr-lost-americas-trust I’ve Been at NPR for 25 Years. Here’s How We Lost America’s Trust – ''The Free Press''] (First-person essay / Media criticism)

# [https://www.stevestewartwilliams.com/p/should-scientific-organizations-endorse Should Scientific Organizations Endorse Political Candidates? – ''Steve Stewart-Williams'' (Substack)] (Commentary essay)

~~[Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]~~

== Question ==

What is the epistemic crisis?

What is the cause of the epistemic crisis?

What are some examples of elite failure the caused the epistemic crisis?

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-== Question ==
+''Written by AI. Help improve this answer by adding to the sources section. When the sources section is updated this article will regenerate.''
-What is the epistemic crisis?
-What is the cause of the epistemic crisis?
+'''What is the epistemic crisis?'''
-What are some examples of elite failure the caused the epistemic crisis?
+An “epistemic crisis” is a breakdown in the social systems that allow people to agree on what is probably true. Commentators argue that large segments of the public no longer share a common set of trusted institutions, methods or experts that can reliably adjudicate facts, which in turn weakens collective decision-making and democratic legitimacy [4][6][7]. Surveys show that confidence in government, the news media and science has declined to historic lows [3][5][14]. Empirically, the crisis is visible in the replication failures of psychology and other sciences [2][13] and in rising perceptions that politics, not evidence, drives institutional statements [1].
+'''What is the cause of the epistemic crisis?'''
+Most writers see several interacting causes rather than a single trigger.
+* Politicization of expertise. Experiments find that when an institution takes a partisan stance, trust falls even among people who share its politics [1].
+* Declining reproducibility and transparency in research. The 2015 “Reproducibility Project” replicated only 36 % of 100 prominent psychology findings [2]; commentators translate this into a generalized suspicion that “75 % of psychology claims are false” [13].
+* “Truth Decay.” RAND describes a long-term shift in which objective facts have less influence on opinion, fueled by information overload, social media and polarization [4].
+* Media homogeneity and economic pressures. Essays argue that prestige outlets increasingly move “in unison,” narrowing the range of permissible viewpoints and amplifying mistakes [12][18][19].
+* Elite performance failures. Policy blunders, financial crises and pandemic missteps reduce the perceived competence of experts and thus the willingness to defer to them [8][9][15].
+* Feedback loop of distrust. Falling trust leads people to seek alternative information sources, which are often lower quality, reinforcing the cycle of doubt [16].
-== Sources ==
+'''What are some examples of elite failure that caused the epistemic crisis?'''
-# https://arnoldkling.substack.com/p/an-epistemic-crisis
-# https://www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/americas-epistemological-crisis
-# https://www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/elite-failures-and-populist-backlash
-# https://www.natesilver.net/p/the-expert-class-is-failing-and-so
-# https://samkahn.substack.com/p/its-the-epistemology-stupid
-# https://samharris.substack.com/p/the-reckoning
-# https://www.persuasion.community/p/why-the-media-moves-in-unison
-# https://unsafescience.substack.com/p/75-of-psychology-claims-are-false
-# https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/10/28/jeff-bezos-washington-post-trust/
-# https://www.slowboring.com/p/elite-misinformation-is-an-underrated
-== Answer from Wikle ==
+Commentators point to high-profile episodes where institutional actors were later judged to have misinformed or under-performed. The list below focuses on cases repeatedly cited across the sources.
-The epistemic crisis refers to the current predicament where there is a significant lack of trust in shared sources of knowledge and information. This crisis manifests as a widespread skepticism towards institutions previously considered as authorities on truth, such as the media, academia, and government agencies (1,2). There is a pervasive questioning of the validity and reliability of their information, leading to a breakdown in the consensus about what constitutes truth and fact (2).
-The causes of the epistemic crisis are multifaceted. One significant factor is the proliferation of digital media, which facilitates the spread of misinformation and disinformation, undermining trust in traditional sources of knowledge (1). The fragmentation of the media landscape has also led to the creation of "echo chambers," where individuals are exposed primarily to views that reinforce their preexisting beliefs, further exacerbating the crisis (5). Moreover, the crisis is fueled by perceived failures of the "elite" class, including experts and institutions, in managing societal issues (3,4).
+* Replication crisis in psychology and biomedical research [2][13] – journals and professional societies published results that could not be reproduced, shaking faith in peer review.
+* Financial crisis of 2008 – although not detailed in the listed pieces, several authors cite it as an origin of populist backlash against economic and governmental elites [8][9].
+* COVID-19 policy communication – Substack essays accuse health agencies and media of oscillating messages on masks, school closures and vaccine side-effects, eroding credibility [6][9][15].
+* Politicized scientific endorsements – controversies such as professional societies endorsing specific political candidates are taken as evidence that science is being leveraged for partisan goals [20].
+* Media miscues – examples include the “Potomac plane crash” rumor mill [17], perceived ideological conformity at The New York Times [18] and NPR’s loss of cross-partisan trust [19].
+* Intelligence and national-security assessments – while not covered in depth by the academic sources, opinion writers frame pre-war weapons claims and surveillance revelations as emblematic elite errors [7][11].
-There are several examples of elite failure that have contributed to the epistemic crisis. One is the 2008 financial crisis, which was seen as a direct result of the elite's negligence and mismanagement, leading to a widespread distrust in their ability to make sound decisions (4). Additionally, many viewed the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic as another failure of the expert class, with perceived inconsistencies in guidance and policy contributing to public skepticism (4,6).
+'''Conflicting views and ongoing discourse'''
-The public discourse on the epistemic crisis is often contentious. Some argue for a return to trust in expert opinion and traditional sources of information, asserting that the crisis is largely a result of misinformation spread through social media (7). Others contend that the crisis is a necessary reckoning, forcing institutions to become more transparent and accountable (6).
+Not everyone accepts the “crisis” framing. Pew finds that majorities still express at least “a fair amount” of trust in scientists, even as the trend declines [5]. Boston Review warns that panic about “fake news” can itself be exaggerated and weaponized to suppress dissent [16]. Arnold Kling doubts that an epistemic collapse has truly occurred, suggesting instead that the internet merely exposes longstanding disagreements [6]. Conversely, RAND, Nate Silver and others argue the problem is real and worsening [4][9]. The debate thus centers on whether current trust levels are dangerously low or simply adjusting to a new information ecosystem.
-The epistemic crisis and its causes and implications are topics of ongoing debate, with divergent views among scholars, media commentators, and the public (1-7). The complexity of the issue makes it difficult to find a consensus, which in itself is a reflection of the crisis at hand.
+== Sources ==
+# [https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-3239561/v1 Politicization Undermines Trust in Institutions, Even Among the Ideologically Aligned Public – ''Research Square''] (2024 pre-print; Empirical research)
+# [https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aac4716 Estimating the Reproducibility of Psychological Science – ''Science''] (2015 peer-reviewed replication study)
+# [https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/06/24/public-trust-in-government-1958-2024 Public Trust in Government: 1958-2024 – ''Pew Research Center''] (Long-running survey report)
+# [https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2314.html Truth Decay: An Initial Exploration of the Diminishing Role of Facts and Analysis in American Public Life – ''RAND Corporation''] (2018 research report / policy study)
+# [https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2023/11/14/americans-trust-in-scientists-positive-views-of-science-continue-to-decline/ Americans’ Trust in Scientists, Positive Views of Science Continue to Decline – ''Pew Research Center''] (2023 survey report)
+# [https://arnoldkling.substack.com/p/an-epistemic-crisis An Epistemic Crisis? – ''In My Tribe'' (Substack)] (Opinion / Essay)
+# [https://www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/americas-epistemological-crisis America’s Epistemological Crisis – ''Conspicuous Cognition''] (Commentary essay)
+# [https://www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/elite-failures-and-populist-backlash Elite Failures and Populist Backlash – ''Conspicuous Cognition''] (Commentary essay)
+# [https://www.natesilver.net/p/the-expert-class-is-failing-and-so The Expert Class Is Failing, and So Is Biden’s Presidency – ''Silver Bulletin'' (Substack)] (Opinion / Essay)
+# [https://samkahn.substack.com/p/its-the-epistemology-stupid It’s the Epistemology, Stupid – ''Sam Kahn'' (Substack)] (Opinion / Essay)
+# [https://samharris.substack.com/p/the-reckoning The Reckoning – ''Sam Harris'' (Substack)] (Opinion / Essay)
+# [https://www.persuasion.community/p/why-the-media-moves-in-unison Why the Media Moves in Unison – ''Persuasion''] (Opinion / Essay)
+# [https://unsafescience.substack.com/p/75-of-psychology-claims-are-false 75 % of Psychology Claims Are False – ''Unsafe Science'' (Substack)] (Commentary / Replication-crisis analysis)
+# [https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/10/28/jeff-bezos-washington-post-trust/ The Hard Truth: Americans Don’t Trust the News Media – ''The Washington Post''] (2024 Opinion / Op-Ed)
+# [https://www.slowboring.com/p/elite-misinformation-is-an-underrated Elite Misinformation Is an Underrated Problem – ''Slow Boring''] (Opinion / Essay)
+# [https://www.bostonreview.net/articles/the-fake-news-about-fake-news/ The Fake News About Fake News – ''Boston Review''] (Long-form analysis / Essay)
+# [https://jessesingal.substack.com/p/how-to-know-who-to-trust-potomac How to Know Who to Trust, Potomac Plane Crash Edition – ''Jesse Singal'' (Substack)] (Commentary / Media criticism)
+# [https://www.economist.com/1843/2023/12/14/when-the-new-york-times-lost-its-way When the New York Times Lost Its Way – ''1843 Magazine'' (''The Economist'')] (Magazine feature)
+# [https://www.thefp.com/p/npr-editor-how-npr-lost-americas-trust I’ve Been at NPR for 25 Years. Here’s How We Lost America’s Trust – ''The Free Press''] (First-person essay / Media criticism)
+# [https://www.stevestewartwilliams.com/p/should-scientific-organizations-endorse Should Scientific Organizations Endorse Political Candidates? – ''Steve Stewart-Williams'' (Substack)] (Commentary essay)
-[Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
+== Question ==
+What is the epistemic crisis?
+What is the cause of the epistemic crisis?
+What are some examples of elite failure the caused the epistemic crisis?