Forthcoming Research Seminars and Lectures

17th January 2013: Ian Kidd (Durham) - Is Scientism Epistemically Vicious?

(10 July 2012)

Weekly Research Seminar

This seminar will be held in room 005, 48/49 Old Elvet, Durham.  Refreshments will be served from 11am with the talk commencing  at 11.30am.

Title:

Is Scientism Epistemically Vicious?

Abstract:

In this paper I argue that scientism is epistemically vicious. Using the account of the virtue of open-mindedness offered by Jason Baehr it is argued that the adoption and embrace of scientistic attitudes, beliefs, and doctrines renders a person less willing and able to exercise open-mindedness.It emerges that the structural closed-mindedness of scientism requires the cooperative activity of other epistemic vices, such as arrogance and dogmatism. The paper concludes that scientism is doubly epistemically vicious: first, it facilities and sustains other epistemic vices and, second, it simultaneously impairs the cultivation and exercise of epistemic virtues.