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On Epistemic Black Holes. How Self-Sealing Belief Systems Develop and Evolve

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

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Abstract

Many pseudosciences, conspiracy theories and other unfounded belief systems have a self-sealing nature, being equipped with defence mechanisms and immunizing strategies that protect them against counterevidence and criticism. In this paper we discuss the existence of ‘epistemic black holes’, belief systems which posit intelligent agents that are deliberately evading detection and thus sabotaging any investigation into their existence. These belief systems have the remarkable feature that they predict an absence of evidence in their favour, and even the discovery of counterevidence. The most obvious instances of such epistemic black holes are unfounded conspiracy theories, but examples crop up in other domains as well. We outline the development and cultural evolution of epistemic black holes, drawing from a number of case studies. Most importantly, because of their self-sealing character and resilience to counterevidence, epistemic black holes suffer from a recurring problem of arbitrariness and proliferating alternatives. Shedding light on how epistemic black holes function can help to inoculate people against their enduring allure.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Boudry, Maartenmaartenboudry@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: 05 Jul 2024 16:24
Last Modified: 05 Jul 2024 16:24
Item ID: 23665
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Mathematics > Epistemology
Specific Sciences > Cultural Evolution
Date: 26 April 2023
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/23665

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