ABSTRACT
In her wonderful book, Democracy and Truth: A Short History, Sophia Rosenfeld writes: “At a practical level, a basic commitment to truth-telling or veracity as a moral position is central to maintaining the interpersonal trust that democracy, in its modern incarnation, needs to be effective.” Truth-seeking in democracy has not always been smooth sailing. In Part I, “Democratic Truth-Seeking: Ideals and Realities,” I briefly discuss four ideals of democratic truth-seeking, drawing mainly on Rosenfeld, but also, on other scholars, to discuss these ideals alongside more problematic realities. This will set the stage for the emergence of tribal epistemologies. In Part II, “Tribal Epistemologies,” I put philosophical flesh on the bones of a current definition of the term ‘tribal epistemology’ and trace some of the factors that contribute to the present epistemic, social, and political fragmentation. In Part III, “Trust: Epistemic, Social, and Political,” I sketch an argument that relates epistemic to social and political trust and highlights the role of tribal epistemologies in destroying trust. Finally, in Part IV, “Can the Truth Set Us Free?,” I offer tentative suggestions for breaking free of the present malaise.
