iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC @unc-aep.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

The Applied Epistemology Project at UNC has wrapped up, having run the 4-year course for which it was funded. However, our website will be staying online in order to make the resources developed by the project available in perpetuity. Thread highlighting those resources (inc. one new one) below. ❤️

162

The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC @unc-aep.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Excited to share our fifth (and final) "explainer video"! (Refresher: these are ~5 min animations introducing applied epistemology concepts for a wide audience.) This one's on partisanship, featuring a script by Rishi Joshi! Please share & consider using in teaching! www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke2c...

youtube.com

[AEP Explainers] Partisanship (with Hrishikesh Joshi)

YouTube video by PPE at UNC

041

Reposted by The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC

Alex Worsnip @aworsnip.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

New paper! I investigate cases where experts tacitly encode value judgments into their public pronouncements, and examine the complications this presents for the rationality of deference to experts, with a particular focus on pandemic policy. (1/2) philpapers.org/rec/WORCVJ

philpapers.org

Alex Worsnip, Covert Value Judgments in Expert Testimony - PhilPapers

Scientific experts frequently say things that encode value judgments, not least when they are called on to offer advice or recommendations. Often, however, the value judgments underlying their testimo...

2225

The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC @unc-aep.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

Very excited to share our fourth "explainer video". (Refresher: these are ~5 min animations introducing applied epistemology concepts for a wide audience.) This one's on ignorance, featuring a script by Jessie Munton! Please share & consider using in teaching! www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOj3...

youtube.com

[AEP Explainers] Ignorance (with Jessie Munton)

YouTube video by PPE at UNC

023

The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC @unc-aep.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

We're delighted to announce the fourth (and final!) Applied Epistemology Project workshop, on Applied Epistemology in Times of Political Crisis, here at UNC on March 6-7, 2025. (1/3)

270

Reposted by The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC

Robin McKenna @rbnmckenna.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

I wrote about epistemic trespassing and why it is bad for my Substack. Tl;dr: it is tempting to talk about it as a moral failing but I think it is often more helpful to view trespassing behaviour as a rational response to bad incentives. rbnmckenna86.substack.com/p/what-is-wr...

rbnmckenna86.substack.com

What Is Wrong with Epistemic Trespassing?

Epistemic Trespassing and the Division of Cognitive Labour

041

The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC @unc-aep.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

New blog post! AEP postdoc Will Conner discusses recent news that Meta has been accused of cheating on AI benchmark tests, leading to a broader discussion of the value of such tests drawing on Thi Nguyen's work on gamification and value capture. Check it out! aep.unc.edu/2025/07/09/g...

aep.unc.edu

Gamifying Intelligence: The Evidential Value of AI Benchmark Tests | The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC

010

Reposted by The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC

Jeff Greene @jeffgreene.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

Good Plain English pod featuring @holdenthorp.bsky.social. I appreciated Holden’s candor regarding scientists’ attempts to influence politics and when such attempts might edge into epistemic trespassing, which is an idea addressed in our recent paper (1/2) open.spotify.com/episode/4Pee...

open.spotify.com

Megapod: The Crisis in American Science

Plain English with Derek Thompson · Episode

152

The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC @unc-aep.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

Very excited to share our third "explainer video". (Refresher: these are ~5 min animations introducing applied epistemology concepts for a wide audience.) This one's on epist of free speech, featuring a script by Rob Simpson! Please share & consider using in teaching! www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMgb...

youtube.com

[AEP Explainers] The Epistemology of Free Speech (with Robert Simpson)

YouTube video by PPE at UNC

042

The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC @unc-aep.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Many (applied) epistemologists think that when you know that there's expert consensus about something, you should defer to the expert consensus. And many of them also think that when you know the experts disagree, you should suspend judgment. (1/2)

philpapers.org

Devin Lane, Should You Defer to Individual Experts? - PhilPapers

Should you defer to individual experts? That is, when a single expert – rather than a group of experts or even expert consensus – testifies that p, should you believe that ...

120

The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC @unc-aep.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

Reminder: tomorrow is the deadline to apply for this! It's a chance to get expert instruction in public writing on applied epistemology, feedback from peers, and to enjoy an in-person workshop here at UNC

022

Reposted by The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC

annamariaaeder.bsky.social @annamariaaeder.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

🥁🎉It's time again! My colleague Thomas Grundmann is organising the Cologne Summer School in Philosophy. This year's star is @aworsnip.bsky.social (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill). 🎊📢 You can find more information on the following website: cssip.uni-koeln.de Spread the word and repost!

0134

The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC @unc-aep.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

Interested in writing applied epistemology for a public-facing audience? Apply to be part of our new working group! It'll meet four times over the summer, followed by a capstone in-person event here at UNC in September facilitated by Eleanor Gordon-Smith. Details here: philevents.org/event/show/1...

172

The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC @unc-aep.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

Very excited to share our second "explainer video". (Refresher: these are ~5 min animations introducing applied epistemology concepts for a wide audience.) This one's on polarization, featuring a script by Kevin Dorst! Please share, consider using in teaching, etc! www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9nd...

youtube.com

[AEP Explainers] Political Polarization (with Kevin Dorst)

YouTube video by PPE at UNC

051

The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC @unc-aep.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

Fascinating new post on our blog by Emily McWilliams, discussing the denial and undertreatment of women's pain in medical procedures through the lens of applied epistemological work on testimonial injustice, manufactured ignorance, and motivated reasoning: aep.unc.edu/2025/03/17/t...

aep.unc.edu

The Retrievals and the Routine: Systematic Erasure of Women’s Pain | The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC

011

Reposted by The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC

Sam Pratt @sampratt99.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

New Paper in Philosophical Psychology: Trust in experts is low. Why? How bad is it? And what should we do? To answer these questions, we reviewed philosophy (when *ought* we defer to the experts) and psychology (when *do* people defer to the experts). Link in comments!

24713

Reposted by The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC

Alex Worsnip @aworsnip.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

I wrote a blog post about Samuel Alito as a case study in the ethics of suspicion and psychologizing blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/openfordebat...

blogs.cardiff.ac.uk

Samuel Alito and the Ethics of Suspicion

Exploring the changing nature of public debate

2164

The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC @unc-aep.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

Check out this interdisciplinary review paper on deference to experts by a team of AEP Fellows (current and past)!

020

The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC @unc-aep.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

Consider applying to be part of this summer school (aimed at researchers of all career stages) on applied epistemology featuring AEP Director @aworsnip.bsky.social!

011

Reposted by The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC

Dannagal Goldthwaite Young @dannagal.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

New from me @theconversation.com We're witnessing a celebration of "common sense" among the new admin & their allies. But remember: celebrating common sense and denigrating expertise/evidence IS ideological. And is NOT a reliable path to truth. theconversation.com/how-populist...

theconversation.com

How populist leaders like Trump use ‘common sense’ as an ideological weapon to undermine facts

When common sense is promoted as a virtue, it’s not just to celebrate how regular people understand the world. It promotes a worldview that rejects empirical facts and paves the way for propaganda.

1314441

Reposted by The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC

Shannon McGregor, PhD @shannimcg.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

I’ve been studying this problem since 2015. Obviously the nature of this changed with the birth of X. It’s gone from over-indexed on the political nerds & activists to over-indexed on Nazis & fascists. It’s no good.

1256

Reposted by The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC

Michael Hannon @michaelhannon.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

I started a Political Epistemology substack, and I decided to begin with an uncontroversial topic. I currently have 3 followers, but I welcome more!

open.substack.com

Social Identity and Epistemic Privilege

Is there an epistemic advantage to being oppressed?

44911

The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC @unc-aep.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

On Saturday, K-12 educators from across the Triangle joined us on UNC's campus for "The Art of Inquiry: Promoting Responsible Belief in the Classroom." With guidance from @jeffgreene.bsky.social (UNC) and Paula McAvoy (NCState), participants learned strategies for fostering critical thinking...(1/2)

Jeff Greene standing in front of a slide that reads: "So...what can teachers do to help students form responsible beliefs in the modern world?"

Paula McAvoy presenting a group activity.

143

The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC @unc-aep.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

New blog post! AEP Postdoctoral Fellow Will Conner evaluates Meta's change in fact-checking policy in light of recent applied epistemology scholarship by @danwphilosophy.bsky.social and others, and concludes that the sky is probably not falling. Check it out: aep.unc.edu/2025/01/20/i...

aep.unc.edu

Is the Sky Falling? Evaluating Meta’s Move on Fact-Checking | The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC

065

Reposted by The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC

Dan Williams @danwphilosophy.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

Here's the background and syllabus (including 'core readings') for a seven-week philosophy module I'm teaching on 'Politics, truth, and ideology'. Feedback welcome: www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/politics-t...

conspicuouscognition.com

Politics, truth, and ideology: A syllabus

Democracy, technocracy, Marx, ideology, critical theory, identity politics, standpoint theory, free speech, cancel culture, truth, populism, and post-truth

3298

Reposted by The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC

Jeff Greene @jeffgreene.bsky.social · 18/01/2025

So fun talking to teachers about "Educating for Responsible Belief" at the “The Art of Inquiry: Promoting Responsible Belief in the Classroom” event hosted by the Applied Epistemology Project at UNC-CH (@unc-aep.bsky.social). Slides available if you're curious: buff.ly/4jeXJhr

Slide with the title "Three Ways to Educate for Responsible Believing" listing Debunking/prebunking/inoculation, Teaching lateral reading, and Developing intellectual virtues.

272

The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC @unc-aep.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

Excited to introduce a new series of explainer videos--5 min videos explaining concepts and debates in applied epist w/scripts written by experts and animations by the super-talented Ripley Stroud. The 1st features a script by Giulia Napolitano on conspiracy theories: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtWA...

youtube.com

[AEP Explainers] Conspiracy Theories (with Giulia Napolitano)

YouTube video by PPE at UNC

150

Reposted by The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC

Dan Williams @danwphilosophy.bsky.social · 27/12/2024

David Brooks gave my essay 'Why do people believe true things?' a 'Sidney Award' in his column at the NYT: www.nytimes.com/2024/12/26/o...

512317

Reposted by The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC

Lionel Page @lionelpage.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

“The Constitution of Knowledge” (2021) by @jonrauch.bsky.social is by far the best book I have read on the epistemic crisis we are currently experiencing, with objectivity and reason being challenged in the context of political polarisation. I highly recommend it.

3208

Reposted by The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC

alice e marwick @alicetiara.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

Wrote a big hot take for Nieman’s 2025 predictions & managed to shoehorn in a lot of pet peeves while using “epistemic” sparingly www.niemanlab.org/2024/12/the-...

niemanlab.org

The mainstream media will lose its last grip on relevancy

"The gap between mainstream media readers, people who get most of their news through influencers or partisan social media, and people who barely think about news at all will create a fundamental schis...

1628285

Reposted by The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC

Alex Guerrero @alexgphilosophy.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

OUP doing a nice spotlight on political epistemology, including work by Tom Kelly, Regina Rini, and lottocracy! Lottocracy, now by Paul Guyer (with 100% more Kantianism)! academic.oup.com/journals/pag...

1203

Reposted by The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC

Jon Rauch @jonrauch.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

File under "It's evangelicals, stupid!": Trump won the overall working-class vote only because 86% of non-college evangelicals supported him. NON-evangelicals without college went for Harris! www.brookings.edu/articles/the...

brookings.edu

The 4 working-class votes

Trump added to growing Republican working-class gains in 2024, but can Democrat's reverse the current trends to stay competitive?

89029

Reposted by The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

This has got me thinking. The ‘echo chamber’ criticism assumes that social media is only about politics. But it’s also about literature, art, science, nature, ecology etc and we’re all learning from each other here all the time (if we engage that way).

4158889

Reposted by The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC

Andrew Little @anthlittle.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

After a review process so long and intensive that the title changed twice, I'm excited/relieved that "How to Distinguish Motivated Reasoning from Bayesian Updating" is accepted at @polbehavior.bsky.social. osf.io/preprints/os... Here is how it's relevant for your Thanksgiving dinner 🦃👇

osf.io

OSF

816441

Reposted by The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC

Étienne Brown @etiennebrown.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Hello, philosophy BSKY! I'm organizing a conference on the Philosophy of Content Moderation. Check it out: www.philmod.org/conference Abstracts due December 15

philmod.org

Conference — PhilMod

0103

The Applied Epistemology Project @ UNC @unc-aep.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

For our first post on BlueSky, here's an applied epistemology starter pack! go.bsky.app/2mvWKgk

113414