The epistemology and ethics of epistemic partiality in friendship
You should give your friend the benefit of the doubt if you hear nasty rumours about them. And you should look on the bright side when you think about their good qualities. At least, that's what popular wisdom teaches us about friendship. These practices are just two examples of the phenomenon of 'epistemic partiality'. We seek evidence that supports a favourable view of our friends, and we avoid evidence that challenges that view. We require more evidence to form unfavourable beliefs about them, and we require less to form favourable beliefs about them. In this thesis, I argue that we should treat our friends with limited epistemic partiality. Unless the moral or prudential stakes are too high, or your evidence is incontrovertible, you should show your friend epistemic partiality. Plausibly, close friendship is a caring relationship. A person's beliefs can harm and benefit other people, I argue, and our friends are especially vulnerable. Epistemic partiality protects our friends from such harm. Therefore, I conclude, we should treat our friends with epistemic partiality. But there are limits. Is epistemic partiality epistemically irrational, so that we shouldn't treat our friends with epistemic partiality?
Warman, Jack Robert
The epistemology and ethics of epistemic partiality in friendship. You should give your friend the benefit of the doubt if you hear nasty rumours about them. And you should look on the bright side when you think about their good qualities. At least, that's what popular wisdom teaches us about friendship. These practices are just two examples of the phenomenon of 'epistemic partiality'. We seek evidence that supports a favourable view of our friends, and we avoid evidence that challenges that view. We require more evidence to form unfavourable beliefs about them, and we require less to form favourable beliefs about them. In this thesis, I argue that we should treat our friends with limited epistemic partiality. Unless the moral or prudential stakes are too high, or your evidence is incontrovertible, you should show your friend epistemic partiality. Plausibly, close friendship is a caring relationship. A person's beliefs can harm and benefit other people, I argue, and our friends are especially vulnerable. Epistemic partiality protects our friends from such harm. Therefore, I conclude, we should treat our friends with epistemic partiality. But there are limits. Is epistemic partiality epistemically irrational, so that we shouldn't treat our friends with epistemic partiality?
epistemology ethic epistemic friendship give friend benefit doubt hear rumour them look side think good quality least popular wisdom teach friendship practice example phenomenon epistemic seek evidence_support favourable view friend avoid evidence challenge_view require evidence form belief require less form favourable belief them argue treat friend limited epistemic unless moral stake high evidence show friend epistemic plausibly close friendship care relationship person belief harm benefit people argue friends especially vulnerable epistemic protect friend harm therefore conclude treat friend epistemic limit epistemic epistemically irrational treat friend epistemic