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Accepted Paper:
I would like to present a short contribution on epistemic humility as an ethical approach for researching religion and international development
Anupama Ranawana
(Christian Aid University of St Andrews)
Paper short abstract:
This paper discusses the importance of epistemic humility to transforming the colonial epistemic structures that govern research at the nexus of religion and international development. Epistemic humility suggests a surrendering of limited constructs, and a willingness to take on unknowing.
Paper long abstract:
Over the past few years I have been conducting empirical research on religion and international development and, based on the testimonials of researchers and communities within these projects have been discussing how our research processes can be more morally responsible. I am curious to discuss with other researchers and practitioners the idea of epistemic humility, which I draw on from the Buddhist tradition and how this can provide a reflexive way forward for transforming the colonial episteme that governs research processes. I wish to discuss how an approach of epistemic humility is a moral responsibility when seeking to address such epistemic injustice. As Forsthoefel (2019), Walker (2018) Shilliam (2020) and others have argued taking on an epistemic humility requires surrendering, even refusing that which we 'know' but which may not 'fit' the communities we collaborate with for our research. Humility and surrender are also key virtues across many religious traditions. Such an approach also opens us up to unknowing. Unknowing, then, is a condition for more authentic knowing, and opens us up to a greater understanding of interbeing (Ling 2019).
Click the star to add/remove an item to/from your individual schedule.
You need to be logged in to avail of this functionality. Log in
Accepted Paper:
Paper short abstract:
Paper long abstract:
Over the past few years I have been conducting empirical research on religion and international development and, based on the testimonials of researchers and communities within these projects have been discussing how our research processes can be more morally responsible. I am curious to discuss with other researchers and practitioners the idea of epistemic humility, which I draw on from the Buddhist tradition and how this can provide a reflexive way forward for transforming the colonial episteme that governs research processes. I wish to discuss how an approach of epistemic humility is a moral responsibility when seeking to address such epistemic injustice. As Forsthoefel (2019), Walker (2018) Shilliam (2020) and others have argued taking on an epistemic humility requires surrendering, even refusing that which we 'know' but which may not 'fit' the communities we collaborate with for our research. Humility and surrender are also key virtues across many religious traditions. Such an approach also opens us up to unknowing. Unknowing, then, is a condition for more authentic knowing, and opens us up to a greater understanding of interbeing (Ling 2019).
Faith-sensitive creative and decolonised research and learning
Session 1 Thursday 7 July, 2022, -