F E B .

2 3 , 2 0 2 1

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE

OF THESE TOPICS (EPISTEMIC
RESPONSIBILITY AND SCIENCE
VS PSEUDO-SCIENCE) TODAY?
R I E A S I N G H - P O L I T I C A L S T U D I E S 1 2
Singh 1 February 23, 2021

The significance of epistemic responsibility and science VS

pseudoscience play an enormous role in our current climate with the
Coronavirus pandemic. Currently, the world is divided, among many
other things, with the notion of believing the dangers of COVID-19
and those who don't believe it. As discussed in the "Anti-Vaxxers,
Conspiracy Theories, & Epistemic Responsibility: Crash Course
Philosophy #14" video, similar to the divide amongst non-vaxxers
and vaxxers, we face a problem with maskers and anti-maskers. In
our class discussion today with how anti-maskers may justify their
Anti- reasoning was long-winded and leaned towards that the anti-masker
purposely chose not to wear masks. However, when we placed a
Mask
child in this circumstance, our reasonings changed drastically- even
Dude to the point of supporting the reason why the student could choose
not to wear a mask.
Singh 2 February 23, 2021

This tied in with 'epistemic responsibility and how one has a

responsibility in regards to their beliefs. In general, most people think
that anti-maskers are ignorant of the clear dangers they pose to
others. But to the anti-masker, they may think why they choose to not
wear a mask is totally justifiable. Why? This leads to what reasoning
do anti-maskers use to reason their actions? I think some may search
to confirm their beliefs that COVID-19 is not a big deal, and therefore
only accept information that lies within their acceptable viewpoint-
not applying any reasoning that may go completely against the non-
dangers of the pandemic. This is exactly what pseudo-science is in
Karl Popper's theory; pseudoscience confirms pre-existing beliefs to
reason something. Perhaps the student who refused to wear a mask
at school used this reasoning to justify himself into thinking it is
acceptable to not wear a mask? Using our knowledge from epistemic
responsibility and Karl Popper's observations of Freud and Einstein,
Maskers we can try to understand why one would approach a current issue like
pro-
facing a pandemic in such a unique way.
testing
Singh 3 February 23, 2021

Thank you!
RIEA S.