Developing Gadamerian Virtues Against Epistemic Injustice: The Epistemic and Hermeneutic Dimensions of Ethics

Authors

  • Haley Burke Texas A&M University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11575/jah.v2022i2022.75563

Abstract

Abstract

In her groundbreaking text Epistemic Injustice, Miranda Fricker evaluates types of harms incurred by individuals undergoing unrecognized and inarticulable oppression. At issue in epistemic and hermeneutic injustice are prejudicial comportments to and evaluations of reality. In the following, I focus on hermeneutic and epistemic injustice in relation to the formation of intellectual and ethical virtues. When reading Fricker and Hans-Georg Gadamer’s hermeneutics together, there is a clear pathway to improve ethical development. In particular, ethical development ought to cultivate the proper virtues that promote understanding. Gadamer’s emphasis on the qualities of a researcher and the epistemic virtues that Fricker highlights reveal an educative path for addressing injustice. In other words, cultivating these virtues counteracts injustice wherein recognition and articulation of reality is challenged or at issue.

Author Biography

Haley Burke, Texas A&M University

Haley Burke is a doctoral student in Philosophy at Texas A&M University, where she is supervised by Dr. Ted George. She is also a master's student in the English department at Texas A&M University. Her interdisciplinary research focuses on the intersections of Aesthetics, Hermeneutics, and Phenomenology. In particular, Ms. Burke is interested in addressing political and ethical conflict through a philosophy of art informed by literary studies. 

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Published

2022-07-05

Issue

2022: 2022

Section

Articles

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