TY - JOUR
T1 - Epistemic landscapes, optimal search, and the division of cognitive labor
AU - Alexander, Jason Mc Kenzie
AU - Himmelreich, Johannes
AU - Thompson, Christopher
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 by the Philosophy of Science Association. All rights reserved.
PY - 2015/7/1
Y1 - 2015/7/1
N2 - This article examines two questions about scientists’ search for knowledge. First, which search strategies generate discoveries effectively? Second, is it advantageous to diversify search strategies? We argue pace Weisberg and Muldoon, “Epistemic Landscapes and the Division of Cognitive Labor” (this journal, 2009), that, on the first question, a search strategy that deliberately seeks novel research approaches need not be optimal. On the second question, we argue they have not shown epistemic reasons exist for the division of cognitive labor, identifying the errors that led to their conclusions. Furthermore, we generalize the epistemic landscape model, showing that one should be skeptical about the benefits of social learning in epistemically complex environments.
AB - This article examines two questions about scientists’ search for knowledge. First, which search strategies generate discoveries effectively? Second, is it advantageous to diversify search strategies? We argue pace Weisberg and Muldoon, “Epistemic Landscapes and the Division of Cognitive Labor” (this journal, 2009), that, on the first question, a search strategy that deliberately seeks novel research approaches need not be optimal. On the second question, we argue they have not shown epistemic reasons exist for the division of cognitive labor, identifying the errors that led to their conclusions. Furthermore, we generalize the epistemic landscape model, showing that one should be skeptical about the benefits of social learning in epistemically complex environments.
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U2 - 10.1086/681766
DO - 10.1086/681766
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84930069017
SN - 0031-8248
VL - 82
SP - 424
EP - 453
JO - Philosophy of Science
JF - Philosophy of Science
IS - 3
ER -