Resistance to Evidence

Mona Simion

doi:10.1017/9781009298537

We have increasingly sophisticated ways of acquiring and communicating knowledge, but efforts to spread this knowledge often encounter resistance to evidence. The phenomenon of resistance to evidence, while subject to thorough investigation in social psychology, is acutely under-theorised in the philosophical literature. Mona Simion's book is concerned with positive epistemology: it argues that we have epistemic obligations to update and form beliefs on available and undefeated evidence. In turn, our resistance to easily available evidence is unpacked as an instance of epistemic malfunctioning. Simion develops a full positive, integrated epistemological picture in conjunction with novel accounts of evidence, defeat, norms of inquiry, permissible suspension, and disinformation. Her book is relevant for anyone with an interest in the nature of evidence and justified belief and in the best ways to avoid the high-stakes practical consequences of evidence resistance in policy and practice. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

‘People who deny well established truths are an obtrusive feature of the contemporary world. Mona Simion argues that such denial manifests a breach of our epistemic obligation to respond to easily available evidence. As well as shedding light on an important phenomenon, she develops new accounts of evidence, defeat, disinformation and our obligations as inquirers. This rich and wide-ranging book will be essential reading for all epistemologists, as well as anyone interested in the root causes of so much contemporary political dysfunction.'

Neil Levy - University of Oxford

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Contents

Resistance to Evidence
pp i-i
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Cambridge Studies in Philosophy - Series page
pp ii-iv
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Resistance to Evidence - Title page
pp v-v
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Copyright page
pp vi-vi
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Dedication
pp vii-viii
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Contents
pp ix-xi
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Acknowledgements
pp xii-xiv
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Introduction
pp 1-6
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Part I - The Epistemology and Psychology of Resistance to Evidence
pp 7-92
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Chapter 1 - Resistance to Evidence
pp 9-22
Triggers and Epistemic Status
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Chapter 2 - Evidence One Has and the Impermissibility of Resistance
pp 23-35
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Chapter 3 - Evidence You Should Have Had and Resistance
pp 36-47
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Chapter 4 - Permissible Suspension and Evidence Resistance
pp 48-67
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Chapter 5 - Resistance to Evidence, Epistemic Responsibility, and Epistemic Vice
pp 68-92
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Part II - Resistance to Evidence and Epistemic Proper Function
pp 93-148
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Chapter 6 - Resistance to Evidence as Epistemic Malfunction
pp 95-110
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Chapter 7 - Evidence as Knowledge Indicators
pp 111-123
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Chapter 8 - Defeaters as Ignorance Indicators
pp 124-137
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Chapter 9 - Inquiry and Permissible Suspension
pp 138-148
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Part III - Theoretical Upshots
pp 149-191
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Chapter 10 - Epistemic Oughts and Epistemic Dilemmas
pp 151-164
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Chapter 11 - Scepticism as Resistance to Evidence
pp 165-177
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Chapter 12 - Knowledge and Disinformation
pp 178-191
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Concluding Remarks
pp 192-196
The Way Forward in Policy and Practice*
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Bibliography
pp 197-214
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Index
pp 215-216
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Contents

Resistance to Evidence
pp i-i

Cambridge Studies in Philosophy - Series page
pp ii-iv

Resistance to Evidence - Title page
pp v-v

Copyright page
pp vi-vi

Dedication
pp vii-viii

Contents
pp ix-xi

Acknowledgements
pp xii-xiv

Introduction
pp 1-6

Part I - The Epistemology and Psychology of Resistance to Evidence
pp 7-92

Chapter 1 - Resistance to Evidence
pp 9-22

Chapter 2 - Evidence One Has and the Impermissibility of Resistance
pp 23-35

Chapter 3 - Evidence You Should Have Had and Resistance
pp 36-47

Chapter 4 - Permissible Suspension and Evidence Resistance
pp 48-67

Chapter 5 - Resistance to Evidence, Epistemic Responsibility, and Epistemic Vice
pp 68-92

Part II - Resistance to Evidence and Epistemic Proper Function
pp 93-148

Chapter 6 - Resistance to Evidence as Epistemic Malfunction
pp 95-110

Chapter 7 - Evidence as Knowledge Indicators
pp 111-123

Chapter 8 - Defeaters as Ignorance Indicators
pp 124-137

Chapter 9 - Inquiry and Permissible Suspension
pp 138-148

Part III - Theoretical Upshots
pp 149-191

Chapter 10 - Epistemic Oughts and Epistemic Dilemmas
pp 151-164

Chapter 11 - Scepticism as Resistance to Evidence
pp 165-177

Chapter 12 - Knowledge and Disinformation
pp 178-191

Concluding Remarks
pp 192-196

Bibliography
pp 197-214

Index
pp 215-216

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Resistance to Evidence

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