Title of Presentation
Universitas Indonesia, Depok, Jawa Barat 16424, Indonesia
An overview, by Judy and Don (published in 2013 in the BULLETIN OF SYMBOLIC LOGIC):
Explorationism is a perspective wherein all of our knowledge is (so far) less than certain, and naturally would come equipped with a base logic entailing machinery for representing and processing evidential knowledge. One such base logic is Evidence Logic, which strives to deal with the phenomenon of the gradational presence of both confirmatory and refutatory evidence. From this perspective, we will address questions surrounding sociological problem areas that we see as deeply infused with substantial epistemological factors. By defining a framework as any theory, in the technical sense this term is used in logic, in Evidence Logic, we will attempt to see each sociological milieu as a largely unelaborated framework. A dearth of elaboration leads to both a lack of awareness of presuppositions and implications inherent within each framework and an overconfidence regarding the veracity and applicability of the framework. For example, some sociological milieux involve Belief Systems (*), below which lurk poorly elaborated frameworks (e.g., Wittgenstein’s forms of life). The lack of elaboration allows believers to assert that their beliefs should apply to ‘the other’ as well as themselves. We consider the possibility that, even when further elaboration of a framework seems infeasible, increasing the awareness of the framework and its unelaborated status will mitigate the likelihood that believers will assert the veracity of their beliefs.
*: Agent A believes a sentence S iff A asserts S is true although A does not know S is true.
Presentations, first by Don, followed by a workshop with Judy (see workshop abstract):
Indonesian democracy needs an informed, educated citizenry that practices skills of perspective taking, debate, and evidence-based reasoning to deal with conflict constructively. An expectation of education in democracies is for educators to provide opportunities for students to hone democratic skills of constructive controversy, debate, and logic and to practice critical thinking, creativity, moral and ethical reasoning, and problem solving and decision-making. A hands-on student-centered, active learning workshop by Judy on structured controversy will follow Don’s overview of scientific epistemological issues and their application to conflict resolution. In the workshop, participants will learn how to create and handle intellectual conflict as part of the expected university classroom experience. Structured controversy is a well-researched educational strategy to help students learn course content and polish skills necessary for dealing with difficult ethical situations and working toward the construction of a peaceful, cooperative, respectful, safe, and economically fair democracy in a diverse society.
School of Education, Leadership, and Public Service
Puncochar, J., & Faust, D. (December 12, 2014). Invited Address: Some Observations on Scientific Epistemological Issues with Applications to Conflict Resolution and Constructive Controversy. Universitas Indonesia, Depok, Jakarta, Indonesia.
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