Intellectual responsibility
Encyclopedia
Intellectual responsibility, sometimes referred to as epistemic responsibility, is a philosophical concept related to that of epistemic justification. According to Frederick F. Schmitt, “the conception of justified belief as epistemically responsible belief has been endorsed by a number of philosophers, including Roderick Chisholm
(1977), Hilary Kornblith
(1983), and Lorraine Code (1983).”
A separate concept was introduced by the linguist and public intellectual Noam Chomsky
in an essay published as a special supplement by The New York Review of Books
on 23 February 1967, entitled The Responsibility of Intellectuals
. Chomsky argues that intellectuals should make themselves responsible for searching for the truth
and the exposing of lies.
Roderick Chisholm
Roderick M. Chisholm was an American philosopher known for his work on epistemology, metaphysics, free will, and the philosophy of perception. He received his Ph.D. at Harvard University under Clarence Irving Lewis and Donald C. Williams, and taught at Brown University...
(1977), Hilary Kornblith
Hilary Kornblith
Hilary Kornblith is an American Professor of philosophy at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA, and one of contemporary epistemology's most prominent proponents of naturalized epistemology. Kornblith received his B.A. from SUNY Buffalo in 1975 and his PhD from Cornell University in 1980,...
(1983), and Lorraine Code (1983).”
A separate concept was introduced by the linguist and public intellectual Noam Chomsky
Noam Chomsky
Avram Noam Chomsky is an American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, and activist. He is an Institute Professor and Professor in the Department of Linguistics & Philosophy at MIT, where he has worked for over 50 years. Chomsky has been described as the "father of modern linguistics" and...
in an essay published as a special supplement by The New York Review of Books
The New York Review of Books
The New York Review of Books is a fortnightly magazine with articles on literature, culture and current affairs. Published in New York City, it takes as its point of departure that the discussion of important books is itself an indispensable literary activity...
on 23 February 1967, entitled The Responsibility of Intellectuals
The Responsibility of Intellectuals
"The Responsibility of Intellectuals" is an essay by the US academic Noam Chomsky which was published as a special supplement by The New York Review of Books on the 23 February 1967....
. Chomsky argues that intellectuals should make themselves responsible for searching for the truth
Truth
Truth has a variety of meanings, such as the state of being in accord with fact or reality. It can also mean having fidelity to an original or to a standard or ideal. In a common usage, it also means constancy or sincerity in action or character...
and the exposing of lies.
External links
- The Responsibility of Intellectuals - Noam Chomsky's essay, referred to above
- Intellectual Responsibility - a graduate thesis