Epistemic expertise: Prolegomena to an epistemology of expert testimony

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Oliver R. Scholz
• Subject Area: Theoretical Philosophy
• Term: from 2013 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 239327984

The epistemic subject with its diverse interrelations to other cognitive subjects, especially the testimonial exchange between speaker and hearer, is the focus of social epistemology. Considering the dependence of laymen on expert testimony, the discussion about expertise is of special epistemological and practical importance; nevertheless it is underrepresented in the current literature. Hence, the following three questions shall be answered by this research project: Starting with an analysis and critique of currently discussed concepts of expertise, we want to investigate in how far a typology of epistemic expertise and a definition of a paradigmatic manner of use can be developed. Considering the fragmentary state of research, a systematic discussion of differing concepts of expertise is an important desideratum of applied social epistemology. Only on this basis can we then ask whether and (if so) with what criteria, laymen are enabled to judge the reliability of relevant expert testimonies. Finally, the question will be discussed which epistemological properties the worked out concept of expertise possesses and which epistemological challenges would result from this. On this basis, we want to examine the common classification of expert testimonies as ordinary testimonial acts and will outline an adequate general picture of epistemic expertise.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants