Knowledge Resistance

Summary, in English

Knowledge resistance can be defined as the state where we are “almost immune to evidence, or experiences of others” (Klintman 2022:323). The phenomenon, often described using related terms, remains highly relevant to understanding the challenges and opportunities of agreeing on the existence, severity, causes and solutions to environmental problems. The concept of knowledge resistance is related to, but also differs from, some other terms. The first is “scepticism” towards knowledge claims that challenge one’s view of reality. Properly used, scepticism is actually the opposite of knowledge resistance. To be sceptical is to demand supporting evidence and sufficiently good arguments before accepting, for example, that the climate changes at a specific rate or that the current species extinction rate is accelerating. Sceptics abandon their old view of knowledge when exposed to a quantity and quality of evidence and arguments that outweigh evidence and support their previous idea (Gigerenzer and Hoffrage 1999; Shermer 2007). When we are knowledge resistant, on the other hand, no amount of evidence or argument will be substantial enough for us to endorse the scientifically based claims about climate change or species extinction. We keep saying, “It’s not yet fully proven”. But since knowledge claims can never be proven with absolute certainty – only with probability – we can never be satisfied with counter-arguments when knowledge resistant. Knowledge resistance is a key concept that works as an umbrella term. It covers – wholly or in part – words such as “denial”, “dismissal”, “fact resistance” and “strategic ignorance”. “Denial” is completely ignoring or refusing to take in evidence or arguments that point to, for example, climate change being real and caused by humans. “Dismissal”, in contrast, is to consider and possibly show interest in such evidence or arguments only to conclude that they are insufficient (Rayner 2012). (Contin.)

• Författare: Mikael Klintman
• Avdelning/ar: Sociologi; Sociologiska institutionen
• Publiceringsår: 2024-04-28
• Språk: Engelska
• Sidor: 393-399
• Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie: Elgar Encyclopedia of EnvElgar Encyclopedias in Sociology series
• Länkar: http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781803921044
• Dokumenttyp: Artikel i uppslagsverk
• Förlag: Edward Elgar Publishing
• Ämne: Sociology (excluding Social Work, Social Psychology and Social Anthropology)
• Nyckelord: Fact resistance; Ignorance; Environmental sociology; Science communication; Public understanding of science
• Aktiv: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt: ISBN: 9781803921037