Language, knowledge and deep disagreement

Epistemic injustice can be roughly understood as the injustice we suffer when being diminished as epistemic agents or knowers. Philosophers have studied how prejudice impacts our linguistic exchanges and harms epistemic agents in both their capacity to learn and contribute to knowledge. Among its potential applications we find the linguistic exchanges occurring in deep disagreements. Deep disagreements are systematic and persistent disagreement rooted in contrary world-views, where there seems to be no mutually recognized method of resolution because we reason and analyze evidence using different frameworks or principles. These disputes are often heated and occur between polarized individuals holding opposing extreme beliefs. For this reason, epistemic injustices can contribute to deepening disagreements, thereby resulting in injustice-based deep disagreements.

The aim of this workshop is to bring together academics working on philosophy of language,  epistemic injustice and deep disagreements to better understand how these linguistic interactions and deep disagreements are interrelated  and impact our knowledge building practices. Specifically, our goal is to shed light on (i) how different types of linguistic practices give rise to epistemic injustice (e.g., testimonial or hermeneutical) and injustice-based deep disagreements, (ii) how epistemic injustices and prejudices limit the rational resolution of deep disagreements, (iii) how the polarization resulting from a linguistic divide exacerbate prejudices and epistemic injustice, and (iv) what strategies could be implemented in deep disagreements to minimize those extreme speech acts that result in prejudices.    

The workshop will take place at Tilburg University during the 3rd or 4th (TBD) of December.  

Submission guidelines  We invite submissions for abstracts (300-500 words) until the 30th of September to the following email addresses: [email protected] & [email protected] (submissions must include both emails). Authors will receive a decision notification by the 15th of October.

We hope to be able to provide travel funding for some of the speakers (especially for those who do not have other sources of funding to attend the event). To apply, please let us know in your abstract submission.  

With kindest regards, 

The organizing committee,

Dr. Seunghyun Song & Dr. Jordi Fairhurst Chilton.