"Relations between colleagues"

by Herzog, Lisa (2025)

Abstract

Abstract This chapter discusses relationships between colleagues, a topic that has received surprisingly little attention so far, from the perspective of social epistemology. I focus on one particular dimension that can make this relationship difficult to manage: the fact that colleagues, while otherwise moral equals, often need to recognize their unequal epistemic authority in different domains of expertise. I discuss the responsibilities that arise from the necessity of managing this tension, both for ‘experts’ and for ‘novices’. First, I do so at an abstract level, then I add some of the complexities of institutional life, concerning the blending of different kinds of hierarchies and the psychological dimensions of professional expertise. Finally, I zoom out to ask which institutional conditions need to be in place to enable individuals to manage the relationships amongst colleagues with unequal epistemic authority in responsible ways.

Links to Reference

• http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/9780198928188.003.0010

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