Elise Woodard (KCL) How to Change Your Mind
Tue, 30 Jan
|Room G37
TBA
Time & Location
30 Jan 2024, 17:00 – 18:30
Room G37, Senate House, London WC1B, UK
Abstract
If realists are more likely to become anti-realists than vice versa, is that evidence that anti-realism is true? I argue that the answer is yes. When more people move from view A to B than B to A, this is defeasible evidence that B is more likely correct than A. This idea, which I refer to as “Migration as Evidence,” suggests that widespread changes in belief could be meaningful indicators of truth. This approach has two main benefits. First, it provides an additional tool for forming opinions on complex and controversial issues in areas like philosophy, politics, and religion, where even experts often disagree. Secondly, it encourages a culture where changing one's mind is more openly shared and less socially penalized, fostering an environment where the pursuit of truth is prioritized over consistency.