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What is the epistemic crisis?

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== Answer from Wikle ==
== Answer from Wikle ==
The epistemic crisis, as described by the authors of these sources, refers to the breakdown or failure of established systems and institutions that are meant to provide reliable knowledge, information, and expertise. This crisis is characterized by a widespread distrust or skepticism towards experts, institutions, and the media. It is a situation where truth, facts, and knowledge are not agreed upon universally, leading to a society where misinformation and falsehoods can thrive.
The epistemic crisis, as discussed in the sources, refers to a widespread breakdown in the ability to discern, agree upon, or trust established facts, truths, or sources of knowledge. It describes a situation where people either cannot or do not distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources of information, leading to confusion, disagreement, and potential conflict over what is true or false.


Arnold Kling, in his article, attributes the epistemic crisis to the failure of the intellectual and media class to uphold its traditional gatekeeping roles. He argues that the rise of the internet and social media has disrupted the information ecosystem, enabling misinformation and conspiracy theories to spread faster and wider. He also points out that the intellectual class and the media have become more partisan and biased, leading to a loss of trust and credibility.
The causes of the epistemic crisis are multi-faceted and somewhat disputed among the sources.  


Nate Silver, on the other hand, identifies the cause of the epistemic crisis as the failure of the expert class. He argues that experts have lost their credibility due to their inability to predict and manage major crises, such as the 2008 financial crisis, the Iraq war, and the COVID-19 pandemic. These failures have eroded public trust in experts and institutions and fostered skepticism and cynicism.
Arnold Kling on his substack page argues that the crisis is largely due to a shift from a "persuasion" paradigm, where individuals use reason and evidence to convince others, to a "manipulation" paradigm, where people use techniques that might distort the truth to get others to believe what they want.  


Similarly, the author of Conspicuous Cognition identifies the cause of the epistemic crisis as the failure of elites and institutions. He argues that institutions have become more insulated and less accountable, leading to a loss of trust and legitimacy. He also points out that elites have become more disconnected from the experiences and perspectives of ordinary people, leading to a populist backlash.
The article on Conspicuous Cognition suggests that the crisis arises from both an over-reliance on experts, who can make mistakes or be swayed by political or personal biases, and a growing distrust in those experts and institutions as a result of perceived failures, a phenomenon further fueled by the rise of social media and the internet which has made it easier for misinformation and disinformation to spread.


In sum, while there are slight differences in emphasis, all authors agree that the epistemic crisis is largely caused by the failures of elites, institutions, and the media to uphold their roles as reliable sources of knowledge and information.
Nate Silver, on his website, adds that the "expert class" is failing due to a lack of accountability and transparency, leading to public distrust and the propagation of misinformation.
 
Sam Kahn, on his substack page, believes that the crisis is a result of an erosion of shared epistemic norms, meaning that we as a society no longer agree on how to determine what is true or false, leading to the proliferation of misinformation, "fake news," and conspiracy theories.
 
In summary, while the sources may have different emphasis, they all agree that the epistemic crisis is largely a result of changes in how people receive and process information, a lack of trust in traditional sources of knowledge, and a breakdown in shared norms and methods for determining truth.

Revision as of 15:01, 24 April 2025

Question

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

Sources

Answer from Wikle

The epistemic crisis, as discussed in the sources, refers to a widespread breakdown in the ability to discern, agree upon, or trust established facts, truths, or sources of knowledge. It describes a situation where people either cannot or do not distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources of information, leading to confusion, disagreement, and potential conflict over what is true or false.

The causes of the epistemic crisis are multi-faceted and somewhat disputed among the sources.

Arnold Kling on his substack page argues that the crisis is largely due to a shift from a "persuasion" paradigm, where individuals use reason and evidence to convince others, to a "manipulation" paradigm, where people use techniques that might distort the truth to get others to believe what they want.

The article on Conspicuous Cognition suggests that the crisis arises from both an over-reliance on experts, who can make mistakes or be swayed by political or personal biases, and a growing distrust in those experts and institutions as a result of perceived failures, a phenomenon further fueled by the rise of social media and the internet which has made it easier for misinformation and disinformation to spread.

Nate Silver, on his website, adds that the "expert class" is failing due to a lack of accountability and transparency, leading to public distrust and the propagation of misinformation.

Sam Kahn, on his substack page, believes that the crisis is a result of an erosion of shared epistemic norms, meaning that we as a society no longer agree on how to determine what is true or false, leading to the proliferation of misinformation, "fake news," and conspiracy theories.

In summary, while the sources may have different emphasis, they all agree that the epistemic crisis is largely a result of changes in how people receive and process information, a lack of trust in traditional sources of knowledge, and a breakdown in shared norms and methods for determining truth.

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