Lecture 12: Testimony, trust, trustworthiness, reductionist, hermeneutical

What is testimony & trust?

They are intrinsically related → make judgements & form beliefs based on what people tell us

• asking for directions → trust stranger’s testimony

• one testimony has to be more true than others (in a trial)

What are the 2 perspectives that make a testimony true/reliable? (Reductionist & Anti-reductionist)?

• Reductionist - can’t just take testimony at face value → other justification to reduce down to (credible person)

VS.

• Anti-reductionist - accepting/believe testimony unless it’s reasonable not to

→ evaluate testimony on its own terms & reject any foundation

What is testimony in the legal system?

Want people to be reductionist → don’t accept testimony at face value, examine who the person is

• want strong evidence for claims, not just one’s word

What is testimony in science?

Want scientists to be reliable/trustworthy

• some fabricate results out of self-interest → mistrust institutions in making knowledge due to scandals

• we rely on their info & trust scientists because we assume they’re credible 

Who is trustworthy?

Power dynamics in society allow people to believe women are untrustworthy

• women prescribed as emotional, irrational, a non-knower biologically in society

• A knower → trustworthy, knowers are socially situated

• women considered unreliable/untrustworthy

What is epistemic injustice?

Denied reliable testimony due to one’s status

• ex. women’s intuition dismissed as a feeling instead of a genuine fact

• can happen due to class, race, gender, ethnicity

What is testimonial injustice?

Not being granted credible status due to prejudice

• plays a role in hermeneutical marginalization

What is hermeneutical marginalization?

Belonging to a social group that excludes you from a common pool

• attempts to contribute are degraded due to belonging to this group

• plays a role in hermeneutical injustice

What is hermeneutical injustice?

Frustration in trying to explain/articulate a social experience

• lack of credibility makes it hard to explain to others & self

• no label for sexual harassment back in the day doesn’t help for credibility & belief you’re not crazy

• women wrongfully denied trustworthiness → marginalizes women, prevents them from understanding their lives

What is the hermeneutical injustice of trans people?

Similar way that gay people were denied their experience

• raised to believe women are inferior, why would you choose to be less?

→ Hermeneutical injustice: no label made it difficult to articulate experience & lack of credibility contributes

• To abolish gender-based oppression - don’t undermine credibility & testimony