Abstract: (coauthored with Maëlle Turbide)
In epistemology, the analysis of testimony has traditionally centered on the interplay between speaker and hearer. This focus overlooks the complexity of many real-world testimonial exchanges. This article introduces the role of the mediator, distinct from speaker and hearer, and at work in diverse testimonial settings (e.g., journalism, social media and search engines). Expanding beyond the conventional two-agent model, we propose a three-agent framework for mediated testimony, in which a mediator (M) in context (C) reports to the hearer (H) what the speaker (S) conveyed (p), accompanied by informational cues (I). Highlighting the potential pitfalls of mediated testimony, we explore its normative landscape, highlighting two principles: TRANSPARENT RELEVANCE and MEASURED GATEKEEPING.
Speaker Bio:
François Claveau is Canada Research Chair in Applied Epistemology and associate professor in the Department of Philosophy and applied ethics at Université de Sherbrooke. He works in social epistemology and the philosophy of economics. He is a visiting professor in the Department of Philosophy at UBC for 2023-2024.