The Ethics of Belief, Cognition, and Climate Change Pseudoskepticism: Implications for Public Discourse.
The relationship between knowledge, belief, and ethics is an inaugural theme in philosophy; more recently, under the title "ethics of belief" philosophers have worked to develop the appropriate methodology for studying the nexus of epistemology, ethics, and psychology. The title "ethics of belief" comes from a 19th-century paper written by British philosopher and mathematician W.K. Clifford. Clifford argues that we are morally responsible for our beliefs because (a) each belief that we form creates the cognitive circumstances for related beliefs to follow, and (b) we inevitably influence each other through those beliefs. This study argues that recent cognitive research supports Cliffordian insights regarding patterns of belief formation and social influence. From the confirmation offered by such research, it follows that informational accuracy holds serious ethical significance in public discourse. Although scientific and epistemological matters are not always thought to be linked to normative morality, this study builds on Clifford's initial insights to show their linkage is fundamental to inquiry itself. In turn, Clifford's ethical and epistemic outline can inform a framework grounded in "public reason" under which seemingly opposed science communication strategies (e.g., "information deficit" and "cultural cognition" models) are philosophically united. With public discourse on climate change as the key example, empirically informed and grounded strategies for science communication in the public sphere are considered.
['Torcello|Lawrence|L|']
D057231:Climate Change D003071:Cognition D003142:Communication D003469:Culture D003717:Denial, Psychological D004989:Ethics D006801:Humans D019359:Knowledge D008960:Models, Psychological D009014:Morals D010684:Philosophy D012106:Research
Ethics of belief Climate change Public reason Information deficit Cultural cognition Anthropogenic global warming Mere-exposure effect Science denial Scientific consensus