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?'''

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].

~~== Sources ==~~

'''What is the cause of 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

x

~~== Answer from Wikle ==~~

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

~~1) Arnold Kling's "An Epistemic Crisis"~~

~~- What is the epistemic crisis?~~

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

The ~~epistemic crisis~~, ~~as described in this article~~, ~~refers to the crisis in epistemology~~, the ~~study~~ of ~~knowledge~~ and ~~justified belief~~. ~~Arnold Kling identifies~~ the ~~crisis as~~ the ~~increasing polarization and tribalism in society, where different groups form distinct narratives and believe only information that supports their existing beliefs, rejecting what contradicts~~ them. ~~This crisis is characterized by a lack~~ of trust ~~in institutions and a decline in shared narratives and mutual understanding~~.

* 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].

- What ~~is the cause~~ of the epistemic crisis?

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

According to the article, the cause of the epistemic crisis is the rise of social media and the Internet. These platforms allow individuals to create their own information bubbles and echo chambers, leading to increased polarization. Additionally, the decline in trust in traditional institutions and authorities also contributes to the crisis.

~~2) Conspicuous Cognition's "America's Epistemological Crisis"~~

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.

~~- What is the epistemic~~ crisis?

* 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.

~~In this piece~~, ~~the epistemic crisis is described~~ as ~~a state~~ of ~~national division~~ and ~~disagreement over basic facts~~ and ~~reality~~. ~~People~~ are ~~living~~ in ~~entirely different informational worlds~~, ~~leading to a fractured public discourse~~ and ~~the inability to reach consensus on important issues~~.

* 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].

~~- What is the cause of the epistemic crisis?~~

'''Conflicting views and ongoing discourse'''

~~The article suggests that the crisis is primarily due to the rise of "information warfare," where individuals~~ and groups use misinformation and disinformation to advance their agendas. The proliferation of social media and digital platforms has made it easier for "bad actors" to spread false information, leading to confusion and division.

~~3) Conspicuous Cognition's "Elite Failures~~ and ~~Populist Backlash"~~

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.

- ~~What is~~ the ~~epistemic crisis?~~

== Sources ==

~~In this context,~~ the ~~epistemic crisis is~~ the ~~breakdown~~ in ~~the public~~'s trust ~~and faith~~ in ~~elites~~, ~~institutions~~, and ~~expert knowledge~~. ~~This article also emphasizes~~ the ~~populist backlash as part of~~ the ~~crisis~~, ~~where~~ the ~~public increasingly rejects~~ the ~~narratives and expertise~~ of the ~~elites and institutions~~.

# [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)

- What is ~~the cause of~~ the epistemic crisis?

== Question ==

~~The article blames~~ the ~~epistemic crisis on the failures~~ of ~~elites and institutions. It argues that a series of blunders and mistakes by these entities have eroded public trust. These failures include~~ the ~~Iraq War, the financial~~ crisis~~, and the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The public perceives these as evidence~~ of elite ~~incompetence or malfeasance, leading to~~ the ~~rejection of expert knowledge and~~ the ~~rise of populist sentiments.~~

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?'''
+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].
-== Sources ==
+'''What is the cause of 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
-x
-== Answer from Wikle ==
+Most writers see several interacting causes rather than a single trigger.
-) Arnold Kling's "An Epistemic Crisis"
-- What is the epistemic crisis?
+* Politicization of expertise. Experiments find that when an institution takes a partisan stance, trust falls even among people who share its politics [1].
-The epistemic crisis, as described in this article, refers to the crisis in epistemology, the study of knowledge and justified belief. Arnold Kling identifies the crisis as the increasing polarization and tribalism in society, where different groups form distinct narratives and believe only information that supports their existing beliefs, rejecting what contradicts them. This crisis is characterized by a lack of trust in institutions and a decline in shared narratives and mutual understanding.
+* 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].
-- What is the cause of the epistemic crisis?
+'''What are some examples of elite failure that caused the epistemic crisis?'''
-According to the article, the cause of the epistemic crisis is the rise of social media and the Internet. These platforms allow individuals to create their own information bubbles and echo chambers, leading to increased polarization. Additionally, the decline in trust in traditional institutions and authorities also contributes to the crisis.
-) Conspicuous Cognition's "America's Epistemological Crisis"
+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.
-- What is the epistemic crisis?
+* 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.
-In this piece, the epistemic crisis is described as a state of national division and disagreement over basic facts and reality. People are living in entirely different informational worlds, leading to a fractured public discourse and the inability to reach consensus on important issues.
+* 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].
-- What is the cause of the epistemic crisis?
+'''Conflicting views and ongoing discourse'''
-The article suggests that the crisis is primarily due to the rise of "information warfare," where individuals and groups use misinformation and disinformation to advance their agendas. The proliferation of social media and digital platforms has made it easier for "bad actors" to spread false information, leading to confusion and division.
-) Conspicuous Cognition's "Elite Failures and Populist Backlash"
+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.
-- What is the epistemic crisis?
+== Sources ==
-In this context, the epistemic crisis is the breakdown in the public's trust and faith in elites, institutions, and expert knowledge. This article also emphasizes the populist backlash as part of the crisis, where the public increasingly rejects the narratives and expertise of the elites and institutions.
+# [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)
-- What is the cause of the epistemic crisis?
+== Question ==
-The article blames the epistemic crisis on the failures of elites and institutions. It argues that a series of blunders and mistakes by these entities have eroded public trust. These failures include the Iraq War, the financial crisis, and the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The public perceives these as evidence of elite incompetence or malfeasance, leading to the rejection of expert knowledge and the rise of populist sentiments.
+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?