Modification:Sciento-2023-0006

Accept that epistemic actions can be local or global. Also accept the definition of global epistemic action as an epistemic action that is available to all epistemic agents trans-historically and universally and the definition of local epistemic action as an epistemic action that is not available trans-historically to all epistemic agents, but is specific to some time periods or some agents.

The modification was suggested to Scientonomy community by Joshua Allen on 31 December 2023.1 The modification is currently being evaluated; a verdict is pending.

Preamble

When considering various epistemic actions, it becomes clear that only a few of these can be said to be global actions while others are merely local. For instance, taking a stance of acceptance (i.e., accepting) seems to be a global action, as without this epistemic action no process of scientific change seems possible. In contrast, such epistemic actions as simulating, experimenting, or modelling seem to be local actions since they need not necessarily be part of the repertoire of epistemic actions of all conceivable epistemic agents; such local actions emerge at a certain time and become available to some but not all epistemic agents.

Modification

Theories To Accept

• Global Epistemic Action (Allen-2023): An epistemic action that is available to all epistemic agents trans-historically and universally.

• Global Epistemic Action Is a Subtype of Epistemic Action (Allen-2023): Global Epistemic Action is a subtype of Epistemic Action, i.e. epistemic action is a supertype of global epistemic action.
• Global Epistemic Action Exists: There is such a thing as a global epistemic action.
• Local Epistemic Action (Allen-2023): An epistemic action that is not available trans-historically to all epistemic agents, but is specific to some time periods or some agents.

• Local Epistemic Action Exists: There is such a thing as a local epistemic action.
• Local Epistemic Action Is a Subtype of Epistemic Action (Allen-2023): Local Epistemic Action is a subtype of Epistemic Action, i.e. epistemic action is a supertype of local epistemic action.

Questions Answered

This modification attempts to answer the following question(s):

• Subtypes of Epistemic Action: What are the subtypes of an epistemic action?
• Global Epistemic Action: What is global epistemic action? How should it be defined?
• Existence of Global Epistemic Action: Does a global epistemic action exist?
• Supertypes of Global Epistemic Action: What are the supertypes of a global epistemic action?
• Local Epistemic Action: What is local epistemic action? How should it be defined?
• Existence of Local Epistemic Action: Does a local epistemic action exist?
• Supertypes of Local Epistemic Action: What are the supertypes of a local epistemic action?

Verdict

The modification is currently being evaluated; a verdict is pending.

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