How to overcome epistemic challenges in the modern world: the position of G. Skirbekk

Abstract

«Epistemic Challenges in a Modern World» is a new book by Norwegian philosopher Gunnar Skirbekk. It has been published in 2019 in Zürich. The term “post-truth” was widely discussed during this period. That is why the book has a subtitle “From “fake news” and “post truth” to underlying epistemic challenges in science-based risk-societies”. Although an active discussion of the term is gradually decreasing at present, Skirbeckk's book is still relevant. It has been written to analyze a crisis situation in society. Three factors are the causes of the crisis: new technologies (they help create information noise and echo chambers, send personal information to global corporations and politicians), globalized capitalism (it generates a lot of commercial media), and new class constellations (they cause to feelings of the instability and distrust of the traditional politicians). It is epistemic problems that are a core of the crisis of the modern world. To preserve and strengthen the position of the democracy requires to overcome them. According to Skirbekk, this is possible due to the development of three institutions such as school, university and media. However, they are also in crisis. School is not able to prepare enough competent citizens. University loses its position and becomes a center of an “argumentophobia” and an “epistemic anomaly”. Media deviate from a journalistic standard. They should ensure a normal democratic process together. Crisis of these institutions proves to be a crisis of democracy. This process we can see in our time. School should prepare future members of civil society who are ready for dialogue. University should be a model for open discussions and control over the accuracy of information in the media. Media should be a provider of information to the public and a platform for discussion in civil society.