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Epistemic Normativity from an Evolutionary Epistemological Point of View

Stephens, Andreas LU orcid ; Felix, Cathrine V. LU ; Tjøstheim, Trond A. LU and Ask Zaar, Balder LU orcid (2026) In Erkenntnis
Abstract
This paper explores how evolutionary epistemology can offer insights into the discussion of naturalization of epistemology and normativity. Living organisms have an inherent disposition to continue living – i.e., staying in homeostasis – which they accomplish through an anticipatory regulatory process called allostasis. Organisms only survive under certain conditions, and so their actions and predictions need to be “good enough” for the organism, and species, to continue existing. That is, if their actions and predictions are successful or accurate to a satisficing degree, they will have a higher chance of surviving. Since congruence between model and world is conducive to survival, evolution will tend to select for mechanisms that... (More)
This paper explores how evolutionary epistemology can offer insights into the discussion of naturalization of epistemology and normativity. Living organisms have an inherent disposition to continue living – i.e., staying in homeostasis – which they accomplish through an anticipatory regulatory process called allostasis. Organisms only survive under certain conditions, and so their actions and predictions need to be “good enough” for the organism, and species, to continue existing. That is, if their actions and predictions are successful or accurate to a satisficing degree, they will have a higher chance of surviving. Since congruence between model and world is conducive to survival, evolution will tend to select for mechanisms that engender such congruence. With this in mind, we argue that the world provides a naturally grounded ‘truth-connected’ normative standard, indicating that epistemic normativity is shaped by an inherent biological disposition to persist in a perilous world. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Epistemic normativity, Normativity, Naturalistic epistemology, Evolutionary epistemology, Survival, Homeostasis, Allostasis, Kornblith
in
Erkenntnis
pages
21 pages
publisher
Springer
ISSN
1572-8420
DOI
10.1007/s10670-026-01064-5
project
Cognitive Philosophy Research Group
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
aca7eadc-5b91-42db-8863-cd28fed5e74c
date added to LUP
2026-01-23 09:07:50
date last changed
2026-02-12 15:01:19
@article{aca7eadc-5b91-42db-8863-cd28fed5e74c,
  abstract     = {{This paper explores how evolutionary epistemology can offer insights into the discussion of naturalization of epistemology and normativity. Living organisms have an inherent disposition to continue living – i.e., staying in homeostasis – which they accomplish through an anticipatory regulatory process called allostasis. Organisms only survive under certain conditions, and so their actions and predictions need to be “good enough” for the organism, and species, to continue existing. That is, if their actions and predictions are successful or accurate to a satisficing degree, they will have a higher chance of surviving. Since congruence between model and world is conducive to survival, evolution will tend to select for mechanisms that engender such congruence. With this in mind, we argue that the world provides a naturally grounded ‘truth-connected’ normative standard, indicating that epistemic normativity is shaped by an inherent biological disposition to persist in a perilous world.}},
  author       = {{Stephens, Andreas and Felix, Cathrine V. and Tjøstheim, Trond A. and Ask Zaar, Balder}},
  issn         = {{1572-8420}},
  keywords     = {{Epistemic normativity; Normativity; Naturalistic epistemology; Evolutionary epistemology; Survival; Homeostasis; Allostasis; Kornblith}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{01}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Erkenntnis}},
  title        = {{Epistemic Normativity from an Evolutionary Epistemological Point of View}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10670-026-01064-5}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s10670-026-01064-5}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}