The Relation between Recognition Theory and Theories of Epistemic Injustice

• Applicant: Hilkje Charlotte Hänel, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Practical Philosophy
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 455582105

Recently, there has been interest in the relation between epistemic injustice and the concept of recognition in the Anglo-American context. Such inquiries focus on the general relation of theories of epistemic injustices and recognition theory, questions such as the normative status of the knower or the possibility of resisting structural epistemic injustices. Furthermore, practices of silencing and epistemic exclusion have consequences that go well beyond the epistemic dimension and that influence our social practices, for example, of giving respect, esteem, and love. Thus, the investigation of epistemic injustice, oppression, and violence in relation to misrecognition proves fruitful in more than one way. The German context provides a particularly promising context for such inquiries because of its long tradition of Critical Theory and, relatedly, recognition theory. Yet, so far, there is no significant research on epistemic injustices or on aspects of silencing and epistemic exclusion in relation to theories of recognition within contemporary German philosophy. And even within the Anglo-American context, research is concentrated in only one special issue in Feminist Philosophy Quarterly and one forthcoming anthology; both being general collections of different ideas on the relation between these two fields within philosophy and do not provide a systematic theory of this particular relation and its consequences for other neighboring theories and areas of applied philosophy. What is missing--both in Germany and internationally--and what this network aims to provide, is: First, a systematic approach that investigates the distinct relation between the different kinds of epistemic injustice and forms of (mis)recognition; second, an elucidation of a general theory of epistemic injustice and misrecognition; and, third, an application of said theory regarding current social phenomena in the world, such as migration, climate change, sexism and racism, disability rights movements, trans* activism. The developing interest in the relation between theories of epistemic injustice and recognition theory so far shows that analysis and critique of epistemic injustices can be significantly improved and fruitfully enriched by the insights from recognition theory; for example, by bringing to light the structural nature of epistemic injustice and by envisioning potential ways to (epistemically) respect other social groups and communities. The systematic approach and elucidation of a general theory that the network aims to accomplish should also bear in mind the significant differences between distinct branches of recognition theory as well as the differences between theories of silencing, epistemic exclusion, and ignorance, which is why the network members include both experts from different branches of recognition theory as well as different theories of silencing and ignorance.

• DFG Programme: Scientific Networks
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr. Fabian Schuppert