mmegi

Epistemic modesty vs epistemic trespassing

I found it compelling to discuss this subject on the back of the ruckus created by the gigantic leap of online ‘experts’ of all professional hues on health issues, particularly those related to the origin of COVID-19 and its cure.

This is a two-dimensional issue, that encompasses moral decadence and an unfortunate dive in trust. Epistemic trespassers have flooded the social media space, riding the crest of faux authority, ignoring professional centreline rumble strips, and recklessly overwhelming mere mortals with contradictory views and misinformation.

The unexpected upsurge in new cases and the whopping leap in mortality have resulted in the emergence of an ill-disciplined online acapella choir. Each chorister seemingly oblivious to the fact that the choir should holler lyrics in unison. Talk about a cacophony of pitches blurted out by a bunch of overly enthusiastic soloists, posturing as choristers, excelling at outdoing each other in hitting self-focused high notes! Ethically, it is unacceptable for ‘experts’ to selfishly take advantage of the ignorance of many, who are not endowed with the capacity to effectively dissect and interrogate information. Implicit in the social contract between individuals is the novices’ expectation that the experts will at all times, share with them nothing else but the truth.

Editor's Comment
Human rights are sacred

It highlights the need to protect rights such as access to clean water, education, healthcare and freedom of expression.President Duma Boko, rightly honours past interventions from securing a dignified burial for Gaoberekwe Pitseng in the CKGR to promoting linguistic inclusion. Yet, they also expose a critical truth, that a nation cannot sustainably protect its people through ad hoc acts of compassion alone.It is time for both government and the...

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