Theory of Knowledge - Course Companion for Students Marija Uzunova Dang Arvin Singh Uzunov Dang

do denialists—or “evidence-resistant-minorities”—
How
the evolution of scientic and political opinion?
aect
article in the journal Cognition (Lewandowsky et al
An
suggests that consensus formation can be
2019)
when a small group of denialists resist evidence
delayed
an issue (such as anthropogenic climate change).
about
want to ensure that we are being scientically
We
while also communicating clearly with
precise,
on this very important issue. The phrase
readers
change’, for example, sounds rather passive
‘climate
gentle when what scientists are talking about is a
and
for humanity.
catastrophe
requires citizens to see things from
Democracy
another’s point of view, but instead we’re more
one
more enclosed in our own bubbles. Democracy
and
a reliance on shared facts; instead we’re
requires
echo chamber is a metaphorical term used to
An
a group in which beliefs and opinions
describe
reinforced by repetition (echoes), while
are
or opposing beliefs and opinions are
alternative
also suggests that this can cause the public to remain
It
about the reality of that issue. To counter
ambivalent
ambivalence, some advocates are using stronger
such
to communicate. As of May 2019, the UK
language
the Guardian recommended in its style guide
newspaper
journalists the terms “climate crisis” and “global
for
rather than “climate change” and “global
heating”,
The Editor in Chief of the Guardian, Katharine
warming”.
less often. In such a chamber, members
heard
or unintentionally engage with
intentionally
that reinforces their existing
information
As social environments, echo chambers
views.
make members feel more confident in
can
themselves, more trusting (and
expressing
critical) of the opinions discussed, but
less
pressured to withhold opposing views.
also
may also find it difficult to leave an
Members
chamber because of how entangled their
echo
cultural and political identities are with
social,
discourse.
the
terms “echo chamber” and “epistemic
The
are sometimes mistakenly used
bubble”
though there are important
interchangeably,
between the two. As Professor
differences
explains in “Escape the Echo Chamber”
Nguyen
linked article), in epistemic bubbles the
(the
opinions and voices are not heard,
opposing
in echo chambers these voices are actively
but
Further, while exposure to
undermined.
evidence can shatter an epistemic
contrary
it may have the effect of reinforcing an
bubble,
chamber.
echo
terms: aeon nguyen
Search
the echo chamber
Escape
bubbles are a type of epistemic bubble
Filter
from the filtering of online content
resulting
by search engines and social media,
delivered
on user information such as search history,
based
and past click-behaviour. For example,
location
news feeds and Google search
Facebook
are customized for users based on this
results
(stored in “cookies”). Eli Pariser, a
information
II. Perspectives
II. Perspectives
Making connections
The science, politics and language of climate change
Viner, gave the following explanation.
(Viner quoted in Carrington 2019).
II.4 Echo chambers and filter bubbles
being oered parallel but separate universes.
(Pariser 2011)
political internet activist who coined the term,
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