Epistemology and the Wikipedia

Authors

P.D. Magnus, University at Albany, State University of New YorkFollow

Document Type

Presentation

Publication Date

8-2006

Abstract

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that is written and edited entirely by visitors to its website. I argue that we are misled when we think of it in the same epistemic category with traditional general encyclopedias. An empirical assessment of its reliability reveals that it varies widely from topic to topic. So any particular claim found in it cannot be relied on based on its source. I survey some methods that we use in assessing specific claims and argue that the structure of the Wikipedia frustrates them

Recommended Citation

Magnus, P.D. (August 2006) 'Epistemology and the Wikipedia.' Presented at the North American Computing and Philosophy Conference in Troy, New York.