Diotima: The Marist Undergraduate Philosophy Journal
be…His only indispensably distinctive characteristic is that in a certain way, he misrepresents what he is up to.” 9 So, how does this track with the trespasser's intent? To answer this question, I’ll identify three defining traits shared between epistemic trespassers and bullshitters: (T1). Misrepresentation of the self: This trait refers to the tendency of an individual to act as if they are epistemically apt to report on a topic in which they are not. (T2). Insufficient knowledge base: Trespassers and bullshitters operate within an area that they are not well-acquainted with. (T3). Epistemic neglect: This trait is the result of not considering or following the necessary steps to reliably acquire knowledge. When an agent expresses T1, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are conscious of what they’re doing, and they may even be trying to arrive at an answer in an epistemically responsible manner. What makes their actions irresponsible is the fact that “they’re trying to get away with something.” 10 Frankfurt appeals to the fields of advertisement and politics as an example of individuals operating with careful consideration but still engaging in bullshit, because, at the end of the day, they are trying to sell something to others. They don’t necessarily care about the truth of their statements, only their effectiveness. In the trespasser's pursuit of justifying their own overconfidence, they’re subject to the same fate. Their research becomes subject to a confirmation bias that operates to protect their epistemic status.
9 Frankfurt, 53-54. 10 Frankfurt, 23.
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