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How Intellectual Communities Progress

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2020

Lewis D. Ross Open the ORCID record for Lewis D. Ross [Opens in a new window]
Lewis D. Ross*
Affiliation:
London School of Economics, London, UK
*
Email: ldr2@st-andrews.ac.uk
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Abstract

Recent work takes both philosophical and scientific progress to consist in acquiring factive epistemic states such as knowledge. However, much of this work leaves unclear what entity is the subject of these epistemic states. Furthermore, by focusing only on states like knowledge, we overlook progress in intermediate cases between ignorance and knowledge – for example, many now celebrated theories were initially so controversial that they were not known. This paper develops an improved framework for thinking about intellectual progress. Firstly, I argue that we should think of progress relative to the epistemic position of an intellectual community rather than individual inquirers. Secondly, I show how focusing on the extended process of inquiry (rather than the mere presence or absence of states like knowledge) provides a better evaluation of different types of progress. This includes progress through formulating worthwhile questions, acquiring new evidence, and increasing credence on the right answers to these questions. I close by considering the ramifications for philosophical progress, suggesting that my account supports rejecting the most negative views while allowing us to articulate different varieties of optimism and pessimism.

Keywords

Philosophical progressscientific progresssocial epistemologyinquiryinterrogative attitudes
Type
Article
Information
Episteme , Volume 18 , Issue 4 , December 2021 , pp. 738 - 756
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2020

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