Philosopher's Zone Who's responsible for extreme beliefs?
Aug 27, 2025
In this discussion, Anne Schwenkenbecker, an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Murdoch University, dives into the complexities of extreme beliefs. She explores how these beliefs can be shaped by social dynamics, echo chambers, and cultural contexts. Schwenkenbecker highlights the philosophical idea of doxastic involuntarism, suggesting that individuals often cannot control their beliefs due to external influences. The conversation emphasizes the importance of epistemic responsibility and the role of trust and media in fostering a more informed public.
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Knowledge Is Socially Distributed
- Knowledge is deeply social and depends on trust in others' testimony.
- Our beliefs often rest on collective networks rather than individual verification.
Three Ways To See Extremism
- Extreme beliefs can be described statistically, morally, or epistemically.
- Normative extremity often refers to beliefs that violate moral norms like equality.
Indirect Responsibility For Belief
- We usually can't choose beliefs directly, but we are responsible for our epistemic efforts upstream.
- Epistemic responsibility focuses on investigation, evidence-gathering and how strongly we hold beliefs.