epistemic crisis
An "epistemic crisis" occurs when trust in knowledge sources collapses, leading to widespread uncertainty about reality.
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Definition
C1Public Discourse
(formal, academic)A situation where trust in institutions like journalism, science, and academia breaks down, leading to uncertainty about what is true.
Example
- The rise of fake news has contributed to an epistemic crisis, making it hard for people to trust any source of information.
- During the pandemic, conflicting reports from different health agencies led to an epistemic crisis among the public.
C2Information Warfare
(technical, strategic)A condition where misinformation and disinformation are used strategically to distort public understanding of reality.
Example
- Political campaigns often engage in tactics that can create an epistemic crisis, undermining trust in factual reporting.
- The deliberate spread of false information can lead to an epistemic crisis, destabilizing societies.
C2Philosophical Inquiry
(academic, theoretical)A critical state where the validity and reliability of knowledge systems are questioned, disrupting consensus on what is considered true.
Example
- Philosophers have long debated the implications of an epistemic crisis on our understanding of truth.
- An epistemic crisis challenges the very foundations of how we know what we know.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "epistemic crisis":