Upcoming concerence in Madrid: "The place of
epistemic agents: Autonomy and dependence in epistemology".
Among the intellectual ideals inherited from the
Enlightenment, autonomy is considered the most
valuable and essential in the pursuit of a rich
intellectual life. But this ideal contrasts with
the reality of our permanent dependence in
epistemic matters. We constantly rely on others
and need to place our trust in them in order to
epistemically secure most of our more cherished
beliefs. Some recent versions in virtue
epistemology emphasize the role of the agent in
the acquisition of epistemically valuable
beliefs. No doubt, the cognitive character of
epistemic subjects and how they are involved in
the task of knowing are crucial in our
understanding of the very value of knowledge.
Moreover, a reflective turn suggested by certain
foundationalist trends in epistemology has shaped
under a new light the question of the normativity
of our epistemic agency, specially in cases of
judging and other active epistemic tasks
performed by the subject. What is then the place
we have to give to agents in epistemology? The
aim of this conference is to discuss both the
role of the autonomous epistemic agent in the
acquisition of knowledge and the role that the
dependence on others (and also on artifacts) has in our epistemic endeavors.
University Carlos III, Madrid (UC3M) -Universidad
Autónoma de Madrid (UAM). October 2-3, 2008.
<http://fleetwood.baylor.edu/certain_doubts/?p=813#more-813>Link
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