PHIL30880 Applied Epistemology

Academic Year 2023/2024

Knowledge is a fundamental aspect of survival: “we seek true beliefs in order to survive” (Fricker 2007, 161). Because we are embodied-minded beings situated within specific contexts, the knowledge we acquire or generate individually is expectedly limited. Some might even argue that individual knowledge—knowledge generated on our own—still relies on a wide range of resources provided for by other knowers in our social world, such that knowledge is in fact always-already social. The limitations to what we can know individually practically requires us to develop trusting relations and co-operative strategies with other knowers so we could collectively share the knowledge/s we acquire or generate.

Knowledge, however, does not simply refer to knowledge of something. Knowledge has a purposive content—it is also for something. Recent developments in Social Epistemology have brought attention to the normative dimension of the purposive content of knowledge. This refers to the investigation of the question about what we should know in relation to the kind of world or society we want to build (Fuller 2020). While varying in types and degrees of significance, what we know and not know directly affect who we become, as well as how we organise ourselves in relation to each other and the world.

In this module, we examine the role of knowledge and ignorance in our social and political life. In particular, we explore the ways in which it is socially conditioned and structured by power, as well as the ways in which knowledge / ignorance can challenge or sustain forms and practices of oppression. The course will introduce students to topics in Social Epistemology in dialogue with Critical Social Theory, that touch upon epistemic issues around race, gender, colonialism, and disability, among others.
Themes that will be discussed in this module include:

Epistemic Recognition and Epistemic Trust
Epistemology of Ignorance
Epistemic Injustice and Epistemic Oppression
Prediscursive Epistemic Injury
Testimonial and Credibility Injustice
Hermeneutical Injustice
Contributory Injustice
Problem of (Mis)education and Epistemic Paralysis
Social Identity and Epistemic Resistance
The Challenge of Relativism
Relationship of Truth and Justice

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this module, students will have a better understanding of the political and social role of knowledge and ignorance. Students will also become familiar with recent developments in social epistemology that have important contributions to make on issues of social injustice and oppression, as well as approaches in critical social theory that can help further illuminate the social dimension of knowledge.

Indicative Module Content:

Topics to be addressed include:

4E Cognition, drawing on the work of Shaun Gallagher

Feminist Epistemology with the related topics of Epistemic Injustice and Epistemic Oppression based on the thinking of Lorraine Code, Miranda Fricker and Kristie Dotson

Preconditions of Discourse which will discuss the concepts of Jürgen Habermas. We will also explore Prediscursive Epistemic Injury and we will have a strong focus on the Epistemology of Recognition, centrally featuring the work of Axel Honneth.

We will focus on the intersection between social epistemology and justice issues, in particular, Testimonial and Credibility Injustice, Hermeneutical Injustice, Contributory Injustice and the Epistemology of Ignorance, featuring the work of Fricker, Dotson, Gaile Pohlhaus Jr. and Charles Mills among others.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Tutorial

7
Autonomous Student Learning

45
Online Learning

24
Total

100
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module comprises face-to-face lectures and tutorials. Attendance is necessary as students will be required in their written assignments to refer to in-class discussions.
Students are expected to read assigned material in advance of lectures and tutorial discussions. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Assignment: Written Assignment 1 will be due by the end of Week 6: (40%) Week 6 n/a Graded No

40
Assignment: Written Assignment 2 will be due by the end of the semester: 5 December (40%).

 Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

40
Continuous Assessment: Tutorial and Class Participation (20%) Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

20

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

The written assignments will be graded and written feedback provided within two-weeks of the submission date.

No books or texts need to be purchased for this class. All readings will be available on Brightspace in folders labelled ‘Week 1’, ‘Week 2’, etc. in the ‘My Learning’ section of the module page. (See the blue banner at the top of the course page.)

The readings on Brightspace will be divided between required and optional. There will be one, required reading each week that should be read in advance of the relevant week’s lectures. (See the timetable below for the list of required readings for each week.)
In addition to the required readings, I will also post a number of optional readings (and sometimes videos or podcasts) for each week. You are not required to read/watch/listen to these materials, but they will be very useful in writing your essays, and some of them will be referenced in the course of the lectures.

If you would like further readings or resources beyond the required or optional ones, please feel free to contact the lecturer for recommendations.
Name Role
Ms Kelly Agra Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Lucas Dijker Tutor
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 
Autumn
      
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Tues 16:00 - 16:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Wed 16:00 - 16:50
Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Thurs 16:00 - 16:50
Tutorial Offering 2 Week(s) - 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Tues 17:00 - 17:50
Autumn