- Author
- Maarten Boudry (UGent) and Johan Braeckman (UGent)
- Organization
- Abstract
- An immunizing strategy is an argument brought forward in support of a belief system, though independent from that belief system, which makes it more or less invulnerable to rational argumentation and/or empirical evidence. By contrast, an epistemic defense mechanism is defined as a structural feature of a belief system which has the same effect of deflecting arguments and evidence. We discuss the remarkable recurrence of certain patterns of immunizing strategies and defense mechanisms in pseudoscience and other belief systems. Five different types will be distinguished and analyzed, with examples drawn from widely different domains. The difference between immunizing strategies and defense mechanisms is analyzed, and their epistemological status is discussed. Our classification sheds new light on the various ways in which belief systems may achieve invulnerability against empirical evidence and rational criticism, and we propose our analysis as part of an explanation of these belief systems' enduring appeal and tenacity.
- Keywords
- Pseudoscience, Immunizing strategies, CONSPIRACY THEORIES, Belief systems, Epistemic defense mechanisms, PSI, DEMARCATION
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Citation
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication: http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-924755
- MLA
- Boudry, Maarten, and Johan Braeckman. “Immunizing Strategies and Epistemic Defense Mechanisms.” PHILOSOPHIA, vol. 39, no. 1, 2011, pp. 145–61, doi:10.1007/s11406-010-9254-9.
- APA
- Boudry, M., & Braeckman, J. (2011). Immunizing strategies and epistemic defense mechanisms. PHILOSOPHIA, 39(1), 145–161. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11406-010-9254-9
- Chicago author-date
- Boudry, Maarten, and Johan Braeckman. 2011. “Immunizing Strategies and Epistemic Defense Mechanisms.” PHILOSOPHIA 39 (1): 145–61. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11406-010-9254-9.
- Chicago author-date (all authors)
- Boudry, Maarten, and Johan Braeckman. 2011. “Immunizing Strategies and Epistemic Defense Mechanisms.” PHILOSOPHIA 39 (1): 145–161. doi:10.1007/s11406-010-9254-9.
- Vancouver
- 1.Boudry M, Braeckman J. Immunizing strategies and epistemic defense mechanisms. PHILOSOPHIA. 2011;39(1):145–61.
- IEEE
- [1]M. Boudry and J. Braeckman, “Immunizing strategies and epistemic defense mechanisms,” PHILOSOPHIA, vol. 39, no. 1, pp. 145–161, 2011.
@article{924755,
abstract = {{An immunizing strategy is an argument brought forward in support of a belief system, though independent from that belief system, which makes it more or less invulnerable to rational argumentation and/or empirical evidence. By contrast, an epistemic defense mechanism is defined as a structural feature of a belief system which has the same effect of deflecting arguments and evidence. We discuss the remarkable recurrence of certain patterns of immunizing strategies and defense mechanisms in pseudoscience and other belief systems. Five different types will be distinguished and analyzed, with examples drawn from widely different domains. The difference between immunizing strategies and defense mechanisms is analyzed, and their epistemological status is discussed. Our classification sheds new light on the various ways in which belief systems may achieve invulnerability against empirical evidence and rational criticism, and we propose our analysis as part of an explanation of these belief systems' enduring appeal and tenacity.}},
author = {{Boudry, Maarten and Braeckman, Johan}},
issn = {{0048-3893}},
journal = {{PHILOSOPHIA}},
keywords = {{Pseudoscience,Immunizing strategies,CONSPIRACY THEORIES,Belief systems,Epistemic defense mechanisms,PSI,DEMARCATION}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
pages = {{145--161}},
title = {{Immunizing strategies and epistemic defense mechanisms}},
url = {{http://doi.org/10.1007/s11406-010-9254-9}},
volume = {{39}},
year = {{2011}},
}
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