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In defense of reliabilist epistemology of algorithms

Duran, Juan Manuel (2025) In defense of reliabilist epistemology of algorithms. [Preprint]

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Abstract

In a reliabilist epistemology of algorithms, a high frequency of accurate output representations is indicative of the algorithm’s reliability. Recently, Humphreys challenged this assumption, arguing that reliability depends not only on frequency but also on the quality of outputs. Specifically, he contends that radical and egregious misrepresentations have a distinct epistemic impact on our assessment of an algorithm’s reliability, regardless of the frequency of their occurrence. He terms these statistically insignificant but serious errors (SIS-Errors) and maintains that their occurrence warrants revoking our epistemic attitude towards the algorithm’s reliability. This article seeks to defend reliabilist epistemologies of algorithms against the challenge posed by SIS-Errors. To this end, I draw upon computational reliabilism as a foundational framework and articulate epistemo logical conditions designed to prevent SIS-Errors and thus preserve algorithmic reliability.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Duran, Juan Manuelj.m.duran@tudelft.nl0000-0001-6482-0399
Keywords: Reliabilist epistemologies of algorithms; Computational Reliabilism; SIS-Errors; Paul Humphreys
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Artificial Intelligence
Specific Sciences > Artificial Intelligence > Machine Learning
General Issues > Philosophers of Science
General Issues > Technology
Depositing User: Dr Juan Duran
Date Deposited: 04 Jun 2025 13:12
Last Modified: 04 Jun 2025 13:12
Item ID: 25567
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Artificial Intelligence
Specific Sciences > Artificial Intelligence > Machine Learning
General Issues > Philosophers of Science
General Issues > Technology
Date: 2025
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/25567

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