LFU:online

Acquaintance with new trends in the epistemology of socially underprivileged groups and the relation between this branch and the traditional epistemology.

Do our gender, ethnicity, or other aspects of our social location exert any epistemic influence? Do they for example influence the ways in which we can gain knowledge, or the forms of knowledge that are available to us? Might there even be objects of knowledge to which a particular group, due to its social location, has privileged or underprivileged access? Are there particular social structures that lead systematically to “epistemic injustice” against particular social groups? If the answer to any of these questions is “yes”, then what are the implications on the possibility of objective epistemic norms? The class will discuss these and related questions, with the help of a rich and burgeoning literature produced by international epistemologists. It remains to be seen whether the answers will yield a complete revision to, or just a friendly complement to, traditional epistemology.

Discussion of contemporary texts.

Term paper, student presentation and active participation in the discussions.

Some chapters from "Epistemic Injustice" by Miranda Fricker.
The following articles (selection): "Epistemology Resuscitated", by Naomi Scheman; "Why Standpoint Matters", by Alison Wylie.

Most of the literature will be providen on OLAT.

None.

It would be helpful if interested students would to sign up non-commitally, even if they are uncertain whether they will attend. There will be an important introductory meeting in October. You can also contact me via email: katherine.dormandy@uibk.ac.at.