We use the terms open mindedness and gaslighting a lot, but do we really understand what they mean?

We sit down with Phyllis Pearson to discuss what it means to engage honestly with information and with others. We chat about curiosity and agency, empathy and perspective taking, and the blurry line between being open to the beliefs of others versus maintaining skepticism and asking for justification.

This takes us to what honest dialogue looks like, whether gaslighting is always malicious, and what it means to have epistemic agency and to ascribe that agency to others.

Guest: Phyllis Pearson

Co-host: Juliette Vazard

(To hear more from Juliette check out Episode 20)

Show Notes: 

Epistemic Agency and Responsibility:

• Exploration of the concept of epistemic agency, particularly the tension between individual control over beliefs and the constraints imposed by external forces.

• Discussion on the societal expectations and moral accountability related to individual beliefs, especially in cases involving misleading information.

Open-Mindedness as an Epistemic Virtue:

• The role of open-mindedness in promoting understanding and addressing resistance to engaging with opposing perspectives.

• Distinction between open-mindedness and related concepts like empathy and curiosity.

• Challenges in defining and operationalizing open-mindedness, particularly its connection to truth, understanding, and societal interaction.

Gaslighting and Epistemic Manipulation:

• Examination of gaslighting as an epistemic phenomenon, involving the unjust introduction of difficult-to-rule-out possibilities.

• Analysis of gaslighting in interpersonal, professional, and educational contexts, emphasizing its impact on epistemic agency and self-doubt.

• Debate over the role of intent and social dynamics in defining and recognizing gaslighting.

Inquiry and Collaborative Epistemic Practices:

• The importance of genuine collaboration and mutual respect in philosophical and scientific debates.

• How practices like raising alternatives or questioning can either promote understanding or undermine epistemic agency, depending on context and intent.

Philosophical and Practical Implications:

• Implications for teaching, mentorship, and fostering open, equitable discourse.

• Broader societal relevance, including the potential to combat epistemic injustices and improve collective epistemic norms.

• Exploration of new directions in epistemology, including socially situated internalism and the normative role of truth.