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Network Epistemology: Communication in Epistemic Communities
Author(s) -
Zollman Kevin J.S.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
philosophy compass
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.973
H-Index - 25
ISSN - 1747-9991
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-9991.2012.00534.x
Subject(s) - epistemology , ask price , natural (archaeology) , social epistemology , sociology , psychology , computer science , philosophy , biology , economics , economy , paleontology
Much of contemporary knowledge is generated by groups not single individuals. A natural question to ask is, what features make groups better or worse at generating knowledge? This paper surveys research that spans several disciplines which focuses on one aspect of epistemic communities: the way they communicate internally. This research has revealed that a wide number of different communication structures are best, but what is best in a given situation depends on particular details of the problem being confronted by the group.