Better than best: epistemic landscapes and diversity of practice in science

Wu, Jingyi ORCID: 0000-0001-7198-851X (2024) Better than best: epistemic landscapes and diversity of practice in science. Philosophy of Science, 91 (5). 1189 - 1198. ISSN 1539-767X

Text (better-than-best-epistemic-landscapes-and-diversity-of-practice-in-science) - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (1MB)

• Scopus publication

Abstract

When solving a complex problem in a group, should group members always choose the best available solution that they are aware of? In this paper, I build simulation models to show that, perhaps surprisingly, a group of agents who individually randomly follow a better available solution than their own can end up outperforming a group of agents who individually always follow the best available solution. This result has implications for the feminist philosophy of science and social epistemology.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© 2023 The Author(s)
Divisions:	Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method
Subjects:	H Social Sciences B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General) Q Science
Date Deposited:	02 Oct 2023 16:15
Last Modified:	09 Nov 2025 00:10
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/120345

Actions (login required)

View Item