Sextus, Mill, and Open-Minded Inquiry: Confronting America’s Epistemic Dilemma
Open Access
- Author:
- Phillips, Madison
- Area of Honors:
- Philosophy
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Christopher Robert Moore, Thesis Supervisor
Brady Bowman, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- John Stuart Mill
Sextus Empiricus
ancient skepticism
free speech
political polarization
open-mindedness
civil deliberation
truth
knowledge
dissent
echo chambers
filter bubbles
freedom of thought
social media
media literacy
John Stuart Mill
Sextus Empiricus
ancient skepticism
free speech
political polarization
open-mindedness
civil deliberation
truth
knowledge
dissent
echo chambers
filter bubbles
media literacy
Internet
news media
epistemology - Abstract:
- What if we viewed disagreement as a positive force, instead of a negative one? In today’s socio-political culture, disagreement is approached with caution, and opposing views are often ignored. These conversational tendencies encourage a lack of comprehensive and open-minded inquiry when a person searches for opinions and information to gain knowledge on a topic. Based on who those people associate with, what groups they are a part of, and where they get their news from, these individuals can have completely different understandings of the world. When we can’t agree on the mere facts of a situation, disagreement and frustration are bound to occur. This appears to be an increasingly prevalent issue in American politics: disagreeing about what is really happening. When social media, along with its algorithms, filter bubbles, and echo chambers of information, plays a part in this epistemic issue, the problem is exacerbated. These problems of individual inquiry affect not only politics and government, but also daily social interactions. Because these negative effects of closed-minded inquiry pervade peoples’ lives, the following thesis investigates how certain philosophical arguments could improve the closed-minded nature of our current socio-political culture in the United States. Two key philosophers provide answers on the best methods of inquiry: Sextus Empiricus and John Stuart Mill. Sextus Empiricus’ writings on the ancient skeptic’s way of life describe a method of information-gathering that is both comprehensive and open-minded; many opinions should be considered from a range of perspectives. John Stuart Mill emphasizes the importance of hearing dissenting views while engaging in this method of inquiry. After discussing my theoretical inquiries into both Sextus’ and Mill’s philosophies, I explain how the Internet problematizes both of their arguments. Finally, I provide practical examples and applications of the methods and values of open-minded inquiry.