Project Timeline
Phase 1: Philosophical analysis of the intellectual virtue of epistemic autonomy
Questions to be addressed:
  1. What is epistemic autonomy and why is it valuable?
  2. How does epistemic autonomy relate to intellectual humility?
  3. How should epistemic autonomy be balanced with deference to expert authority and our social intellectual interdependence?
Phase 1 of the project will culminate in a conference on the philosophy of epistemic autonomy hosted by project leaders at the University of North Florida (Jacksonville, FL). The conference will feature cutting-edge research by leading scholars in virtue epistemology and social epistemology. 
 
Phase 2: Construction of a self-report measure of epistemic autonomy
Questions to be addressed:
  1. How should epistemic autonomy be measured?
  2. How does the measure of epistemic autonomy relate to existing measures of intellectual humility?
  3. Is the measure cross-culturally robust?
Project leaders will develop a new self-report measure of epistemic autonomy designed to supplement and fruitfully interact with existing measures of intellectual humility.

Phase 3: Public engagement with practical suggestions and dialogue regarding the ways that epistemic autonomy and intellectual humility can help individuals navigate situations of contentious public debate
Questions to be addressed:
  1. What practical insights and real-world applications flow from the philosophical and scientific study of epistemic autonomy?
  2. How can the scholars studying epistemic autonomy engage the public with the insights they obtain?
In the final phase of the project, project leaders will focus on the kinds of action-guiding applications that can be distilled from the study of epistemic autonomy and intellectual humility and the ways that the public can be engaged in fruitful dialogue regarding them. Project leaders will host a public forum to engage the public in dialogue about the ways that intellectual virtues such as epistemic autonomy and intellectual humility can help individuals productively navigate contentious public debates.