Belief-Revision, Epistemic Contribution, and Polynormativity

Abstract

Given the limited inferential capacity of any human epistemic agent, the best social epistemic system includes as many human epistemic agents as possible and has them “working under” diverse epistemic norms. In this text, this claim is argued for through presenting a pragmatist and instrumentalist argument for Epistemic Contribution and, consequently, the diversity of epistemic norms (polynormativity). Through universal inclusion and polynormativity we raise our chances of the revision of false belief. Furthermore, showing how neither Dewey’s democracy nor Hayek’s markets can by themselves sustain not slipping into epistemically distortive social arrangements, I argue, along Mill, that there should be an institutional order that primarily maintains universal inclusion and polynormativity. Certain tentative requirements of this institutional order are discussed.