Skepticism Motivated: On the Skeptical Import of Motivated Reasoning



McKenna, Robin ORCID: 0000-0001-5129-7850 and Carter, J Adam
(2020) Skepticism Motivated: On the Skeptical Import of Motivated Reasoning. Canadian Journal of Philosophy, 50 (6). pp. 702-718.

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Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Empirical work on motivated reasoning suggests that our judgments are influenced to a surprising extent by our wants, desires, and preferences (Kahan 2016; Lord, Ross, and Lepper 1979; Molden and Higgins 2012; Taber and Lodge 2006). How should we evaluate the epistemic status of beliefs formed through motivated reasoning? For example, are such beliefs epistemically justified? Are they candidates for knowledge? In liberal democracies, these questions are increasingly controversial as well as politically timely (Beebe et al. 2018; Lynch Forthcoming, 2018; Slothuus and de Vreese 2010). And yet, the epistemological significance of motivated reasoning has been almost entirely ignored by those working in mainstream epistemology. We aim to rectify this oversight. Using politically motivated reasoning as a case study, we show how motivated reasoning gives rise to three distinct kinds of skeptical challenges. We conclude by showing how the skeptical import of motivated reasoning has some important ramifications for how we should think about the demands of intellectual humility.</jats:p>

Item Type: Article
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 09 Mar 2020 11:17
Last Modified: 18 Jan 2023 23:58
DOI: 10.1017/can.2020.16
Open Access URL: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/canadian-j...
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3078309