Social epistemology seeks to redress this imbalance by investigating the epistemic effects of social interactions and social systems.
Although some may view this as implausibly radical AA 'ALCOHOLICS Anonymous' owes its world wide phenomenal success to (despite its spiritual claims) to what is fundamentally Group Therapy
Richard Rorty (1979). Rorty rejected the traditional conception of knowledge as “accuracy of representation” and sought to replace it with a notion of “social justification of belief”. As he expressed it, there is no such thing as a classical “objective truth”. The closest thing to (so called) truth is merely the practice of “keeping the conversation going” (1979: 377)
. As Rorty expressed it, there is no such thing as a classical “objective truth”. The closest thing to (so called) truth is merely the practice of “keeping the conversation going” (1979: 377).
The important human element is that sharing with others heals the sores and wounds of personal strife. Ones knowledge of oneself is radically altered which leads one on to Social epistemology. I can hear you sigh
Social epistemology gets its distinctive character by standing in contrast with what might be dubbed “individual” epistemology. Epistemology in general is concerned with how people should go about the business of trying to determine what is true, or what are the facts of the matter, on selected topics.
In the case of individual epistemology, the person or agent in question who seeks the truth is a single individual who undertakes the task all by himself/herself, without consulting others.
By contrast social epistemology is, in the first instance, an enterprise concerned with how people can best pursue the truth (whichever truth is in question) with the help of, or in the face of, others. It is also concerned with truth acquisition by groups, or collective agents.
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