The objectivity of local knowledge

lessons from ethnobiology

David Ludwig

pp. 4705-4720

in: Matteo Colombo, Raoul Gervais, Jan Sprenger (eds), Objectivity in science, Synthese 194 (12), 2017.

Abstract

This article develops an account of local epistemic practices on the basis of case studies from ethnobiology. I argue that current debates about objectivity often stand in the way of a more adequate understanding of local knowledge and ethnobiological practices in general. While local knowledge about the biological world often meets criteria for objectivity in philosophy of science, general debates about the objectivity of local knowledge can also obscure their unique epistemic features. In modification of Ian Hacking’s suggestion to discuss “ground level questions” instead of objectivity, I propose an account that focuses on both epistemic virtues and vices of local epistemic practices.

Cited authors

Hacking Ian