What is this Project About?
Political epistemology is a relatively new sub-field in philosophy and political science, interested in questions that arise at the intersection of political philosophy and epistemology (the philosophical study of knowledge). Growing out of the sub-field of social epistemology, as well as in response to features of the contemporary political context, scholars in this field examine the various ways that our epistemic practices have implications for our political practices, as well as how our political practices impact our epistemic practices.
The range of topics that might be included under the umbrella of “political epistemology” is broad, but can include, for example, the place of truth in democratic politics, trust in (or distrust of) experts, the role of technology in spreading misinformation and disinformation, and the nature of political disagreement and polarization.
Which Fellows are Involved in this Project?
The Research Fellows involved in this project are Susan Dieleman and Yale Belanger.
What Are Some Sample Outputs of this Project?
- “Who are we when we are ‘Us, at Our Best?'” by Susan Dieleman, in Philosophy & Social Criticism (2025).
- “Richard Rorty and the Epistemic Defense of Democracy” by Susan Dieleman, in Contemporary Pragmatism (2022).
- “We’re All Winston Now: Losing One’s Self in a Post-Truth Society” by Susan Dieleman, in Forma de Vida (2021).
- “Epistemic Justice and Democratic Legitimacy” by Susan Dieleman, in Hypatia (2015).
What are Some Works-In-Progress Associated with this Project?
In Progress:
- Epistemically Just Democracies, a monograph by Susan Dieleman that develops a non-ideal theory of deliberative democracy informed by feminist and pragmatist insights.
How to Become Involved
If you want to become involved in this project, check out our opportunities-tab and contact Susan Dieleman: susan.dieleman@uleth.ca.