What is the epistemic crisis?

Question

• What is the epistemic crisis?
• What is the cause of the epistemic crisis?
• What are some examples of elite failure?

Sources

• 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

Answer from Wikle

1. What is the epistemic crisis?

The epistemic crisis is a term used to describe the current state of knowledge and trust in established institutions, experts, and media in society. It involves a breakdown in the systems and processes by which societies establish what is known and how it is known, leading to widespread uncertainty, confusion, and mistrust. As a result, different groups within society are unable to agree on basic facts or the reliability of various information sources.

2. What is the cause of the epistemic crisis?

The epistemic crisis has multiple causes. One is the rise of social media and the internet, which has resulted in an information overload and made it easier for misinformation and disinformation to spread rapidly. Another cause is the erosion of trust in established institutions and experts, due to perceived failures and biases. Some argue that elites, including politicians, academics, and media professionals, have contributed to this crisis by failing to adequately understand or address the concerns of the public, leading to a populist backlash. There is also a sense of a "herd mentality" among the media, which is viewed as moving in unison and thus failing to provide diverse perspectives.

3. What are some examples of elite failure?

Some examples of elite failure include the 2008 financial crisis, where financial experts and regulators failed to prevent the collapse of the banking system; the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, where health experts and governments have been accused of failing to adequately prepare for or respond to the crisis; and the ongoing issue of climate change, where political and business leaders have been criticized for failing to take adequate action.

However, the source authors have different views on this. For instance, Nate Silver argues that the expert class is failing because it has become overly politicized, while Sam Harris suggests that the problem lies with the public's inability to critically evaluate expert opinions. Meanwhile, Arnold Kling argues that the crisis is due to a shift in the way knowledge is produced and disseminated, from a hierarchical model based on expertise to a more egalitarian, networked model facilitated by the internet.