Ignorance and Irrationality in Politics
A Workshop at the University of Nottingham
June 10-11
A common belief is that democracies require informed voters if they are to function well. But when the price to be adequately informed is too high, it makes sense for voters to guide their beliefs by their desire for comfort, affiliation, and belonging. Does this conflict with the epistemic demands of democracy? If it is true, as some political scientist and psychologists allege, that political belief-formation is primarily driven by social identities and ‘tribal’ allegiances, does this make us irrational? What is required for epistemically responsible belief formation in the domain of politics?
The workshop will explore two issues: the extent and causes of citizen ignorance, and whether (and in what ways) belief formation in politics is epistemically irrational, even if it may reflect instrumental rationality on the part of citizens.
To register for this free workshop, please visit the Eventbrite page.
Schedule:
June 10
12:45pm: Arrival and coffee
1:00pm - 2:30pm
PUBLIC IRRATIONALITY AND EPISTEMIC PATERNALISM
Robin McKenna
Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Liverpool
Break
2:45pm - 4:15pm
DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL IGNORANCE
Ilya Somin
Professor of Law at George Mason University
Break
4:30pm - 6:00pm
SCIENCE FUNDING AND THE MAKING OF IGNORANCE
Zeynep Pamuk
Supernumerary Fellow in Politics at St. John’s, Oxford
7pm Dinner (off site)
June 11
9:45am: Arrival and coffee
10am - 11:30am
FEELING DISCOMFORT: ACTIVE IGNORANCE AND ANGER
Alessandra Tanesini
Professor of Philosophy at the University of Cardiff
Break
11:45am - 1:15pm
EVIDENTIALISM AND POLITICAL POLARIZATION
Emily Colleen McWilliams
Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Duke Kunshan
Lunch
2:30pm - 4pm
EMPATHETIC UNDERSTANDING AND DELIBERATIVE DEMOCRACY
Michael Hannon
Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Nottingham
Break
4:15pm - 5:45pm
THE PERILS OF PERCEPTION: SYSTEMIC DRIVERS OF MISPERCEPTIONS
Bobby Duffy
Director of the Policy Institute, King’s College London