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 | |||||||||
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Keywords: | belief systems; irrationality, conspiracy theory; epistemology; cultural evolution; religion; psychoanalysis; witchcraft | |||||||||
Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Mathematics > Epistemology Specific Sciences > Cultural Evolution |
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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 |
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Date: | 26 April 2023 | |||||||||
URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/23665 |
Available Versions of this Item
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The Truth Is (Still) out There. On the Epistemology and Cultural Dynamics of Conspiracy Beliefs. (deposited 15 Aug 2020 03:26)
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On Epistemic Black Holes. How Self-Sealing Belief Systems Develop and Evolve. (deposited 12 Aug 2022 14:38)
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On Epistemic Black Holes. How Self-Sealing Belief Systems Develop and Evolve. (deposited 30 Oct 2022 18:42)
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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)
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On Epistemic Black Holes. How Self-Sealing Belief Systems Develop and Evolve. (deposited 31 Jan 2023 18:29)
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On Epistemic Black Holes. How Self-Sealing Belief Systems Develop and Evolve. (deposited 30 Oct 2022 18:42)
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On Epistemic Black Holes. How Self-Sealing Belief Systems Develop and Evolve. (deposited 12 Aug 2022 14:38)
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