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Rethinking evidence

Stephens, Andreas LU orcid (2026) In CogNotes p.1-25
Abstract
The modern information landscape is complex and often chaotic, making it difficult for individuals to discern what constitutes credible evidence. Addressing this gap, we explore how systems and processual perspectives show how evidence should not primarily be seen as a static “thing" or fact but rather as a relational property and a dynamic activity. This perspective informs us that our view of the world should be dynamic and pluralistic. Viewing evidence and beliefs as both systemically integrated and processually updated enables us to see our information landscape as an ecology. This view can impact society in several fruitful ways, proving highly relevant concerning deep disagreements, polarization, and malign information influence. A... (More)
The modern information landscape is complex and often chaotic, making it difficult for individuals to discern what constitutes credible evidence. Addressing this gap, we explore how systems and processual perspectives show how evidence should not primarily be seen as a static “thing" or fact but rather as a relational property and a dynamic activity. This perspective informs us that our view of the world should be dynamic and pluralistic. Viewing evidence and beliefs as both systemically integrated and processually updated enables us to see our information landscape as an ecology. This view can impact society in several fruitful ways, proving highly relevant concerning deep disagreements, polarization, and malign information influence. A clearer account of evidence, our cognitive foundations, and our information ecology can make public discourse more constructive, offering a crucial first step towards finding common ground and helping individuals become more resilient to manipulation by malicious actors. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Working paper/Preprint
publication status
published
subject
in
CogNotes
issue
1
pages
25 pages
publisher
Joint Faculties of Humanities and Theology, Lund University
ISSN
3119-3846
project
Evidence, Cognition, and Society
Cognitive Philosophy Research Group
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
0ef250a5-8c70-4c18-b377-ce51dff79e1d
alternative location
https://cogphi.org/onewebmedia/CogNotes1.pdf
date added to LUP
2026-08-21 08:55:40
date last changed
2026-09-29 08:35:38
@misc{0ef250a5-8c70-4c18-b377-ce51dff79e1d,
  abstract     = {{The modern information landscape is complex and often chaotic, making it difficult for individuals to discern what constitutes credible evidence. Addressing this gap, we explore how systems and processual perspectives show how evidence should not primarily be seen as a static “thing" or fact but rather as a relational property and a dynamic activity. This perspective informs us that our view of the world should be dynamic and pluralistic. Viewing evidence and beliefs as both systemically integrated and processually updated enables us to see our information landscape as an ecology. This view can impact society in several fruitful ways, proving highly relevant concerning deep disagreements, polarization, and malign information influence. A clearer account of evidence, our cognitive foundations, and our information ecology can make public discourse more constructive, offering a crucial first step towards finding common ground and helping individuals become more resilient to manipulation by malicious actors.}},
  author       = {{Stephens, Andreas}},
  issn         = {{3119-3846}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Working Paper}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{1--25}},
  publisher    = {{Joint Faculties of Humanities and Theology, Lund University}},
  series       = {{CogNotes}},
  title        = {{Rethinking evidence}},
  url          = {{https://cogphi.org/onewebmedia/CogNotes1.pdf}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}