#20 Rachel Fraser: How your social world shapes what you know

In this episode we speak with Dr. Rachel Fraser, Associate Professor of Philosophy at MIT, about whether experiences of oppression can yield special insights, whether these insights can be shared with members of dominant groups, and what implications this has for policymaking.

(00:00) Our introduction

(03:39) Interview begins

(03:43) Historical roots of standpoint epistemology

(27:38) Situated knowledge: What kind of knowledge depends on social position?

(41:03) What kind of knowledge depends on social position?

(46:04) Does standpoint theory stereotype or essentialize people?

(53:19) Epistemic advantage: Does oppression give you special insight?

(1:01:20) Is standpoint theory objectionably self-fulfilling?

(1:10:51) Can members of dominant groups access the same insights?

(1:16:12) Does standpoint theory apply to moral knowledge?

(1:27:25) Implications: Should we defer to oppressed people about the social world?

(1:31:33) The value of diversity within epistemic communities

(1:37:58) Methods for democratizing decisions in bioethics

(1:41:20) The role of qualitative knowledge in policy making

Used or referenced:

• Bio(un)ethical, “Emily Largent and Govind Persad: Is bioethics ok?”
• Bio(un)ethical, “Danielle Allen: Should laypeople make health policy decisions?”
• Bio(un)ethical, “Sarah McGrath: Are there moral experts?”
• Kristen Intemann, “25 Years of Feminist Empiricism and Standpoint Theory”
• Emily Tilton and Briana Toole, “Standpoint Epistemology and the Epistemology of Deference”
• Kristina Rolin, “The Bias Paradox in Feminist Standpoint Epistemology”
• The Good Fight with Yascha Mounk, “You Just Won’t Understand!”

Bio(un)ethical is a bioethics podcast written and edited by Leah Pierson and Sophie Gibert, with production support by Audiolift.co. Our music is written by Nina Khoury and performed by Social Skills. We are supported by a grant from Amplify Creative Grants.