Boudry, Maarten and Hofhuis, Steije (2023) On Epistemic Black Holes. How Self-Sealing Belief Systems Develop and Evolve. [Preprint]

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Abstract

Are some belief systems so attractive and resilient that even a rational person may fall into their orbit, despite the absence of any evidence in their favor? In this paper we describe the existence of ‘epistemic black holes’, belief systems about intelligent agents that are deliberately evading detection and thus sabotaging any possible investigation into their existence. Such epistemic black holes can exert an exceptionally strong attraction on unwitting believers, even on rational people. We describe the outlines of epistemic black holes in a range of different domains: politics, history, psychology, and religion. Because of their self-sealing character, however, epistemic black holes suffer from a recurring problem of arbitrariness and proliferating alternatives, and they tend to develop and evolve in analogous ways. Shedding light on how epistemic black holes function can protect us against their allure.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Boudry, Maarten maartenboudry@gmail.com Hofhuis, Steije
Keywords:	belief systems; irrationality, conspiracy theory; epistemology; cultural evolution; religion; psychoanalysis; witchcraft
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Mathematics > Epistemology Specific Sciences > Cultural Evolution
Depositing User:	Maarten Maarten Boudry
Date Deposited:	26 May 2023 20:01
Last Modified:	26 May 2023 20:01
Item ID:	22146
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Mathematics > Epistemology Specific Sciences > Cultural Evolution
Date:	26 April 2023
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/22146

Available Versions of this Item

• The Truth Is (Still) out There. On the Epistemology and Cultural Dynamics of Conspiracy Beliefs. (deposited 15 Aug 2020 03:26)
  • On Epistemic Black Holes. How Self-Sealing Belief Systems Develop and Evolve. (deposited 12 Aug 2022 14:38)
    • On Epistemic Black Holes. How Self-Sealing Belief Systems Develop and Evolve. (deposited 30 Oct 2022 18:42)
      • On Epistemic Black Holes. How Self-Sealing Belief Systems Develop and Evolve. (deposited 31 Jan 2023 18:29)
        • On Epistemic Black Holes. How Self-Sealing Belief Systems Develop and Evolve. (deposited 29 Apr 2023 12:29)
          • On Epistemic Black Holes. How Self-Sealing Belief Systems Develop and Evolve. (deposited 26 May 2023 20:01) [Currently Displayed]
            • On Epistemic Black Holes. How Self-Sealing Belief Systems Develop and Evolve. (deposited 09 Aug 2023 13:52)
              • On Epistemic Black Holes. How Self-Sealing Belief Systems Develop and Evolve. (deposited 05 Apr 2024 18:28)
                • On Epistemic Black Holes. How Self-Sealing Belief Systems Develop and Evolve. (deposited 15 Jan 2024 05:39)

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