No idea where to put this, but I might as well capture my thoughts on this and the AI-assisted research (using Learn About) I’ve done, and figure out the details later.
Options based on research below
- Source and Effort: Quick Thought / Deep Thought / Personal Experience / Conversations / Casual Perusal (2nd/3rd sources) or Casual Research / Deep Research (1st sources)
- Certainty: Known - Certain - Likely - Possible - Unlikely - Remote - Unknown
- Bias: Anti-capitalist / I give the sub in power dynamics the benefit of the doubt
- Purpose: Review / Rant / Discussion / Daydreaming / Spitballing / Thought Experiment / Worldbuilding / Today I Learned / Public Bookmark
Issue:
It’s not always clear to me the boundaries between one or the other. Still struggling how to apply these to each post I make, so either need to define them more clearly, or something.
- Also, I suppose it’s not necessary every single time.. just when it can add, not detract, to the post.
Research
Epistemic disclosures are statements that provide context and transparency about how someone came to know something. They go beyond simply stating a fact and instead reveal the reasoning, evidence, and level of confidence behind a claim. Imagine them like nutritional labels for information, helping you assess the quality and reliability of what you’re consuming.
Elements of Epistemic Disclosure
Source of Information
- It’s about revealing where your knowledge originated. Are you speaking from personal experience? Did you read a research paper? Was it a casual conversation with a friend? People need to know the origins of your information to make judgments about its reliability.
- e.g. I am relying on such and such magazine and so and so author for a lot of my input and data.
- Perhaps i need to combine supporting evidence with this?
Level of Certainty
- “Level of Certainty” is crucial for honesty and responsible knowledge sharing. It’s about acknowledging how sure you are about the information you’re presenting. Are you completely certain, or is there some room for doubt? Maybe you’re just exploring an idea and want to signal that you’re not fully convinced yet.
- e.g. Predicting the future is inherently uncertain, but it’s crucial to analyze current developments and consider ethical implications.
- These I suppose are similar to the confidence tags from gwern: certain - highly likely - likely - possible - unlikely - highly unlikely - remote - impossible
- A combo? Known - Certain - Likely - Possible - Unlikely - Remote - Unknown?
Potential Biases
- Everyone has biases—they’re shaped by our experiences, beliefs, and values. Being upfront about these influences strengthens your disclosure. It shows you’re aware that your perspective might not be perfectly objective. Just like optical illusions trick our visual perception, cognitive biases can distort our understanding of information. By acknowledging potential biases, you invite others to consider those influences and engage in a more balanced dialogue.
- e.g. I talk about spicy dishes, and I love food with a kick, so natural bias there.
Supporting Evidence?
- e.g. I use a personal anecdote here, so take that into account
Alternative Perspectives?
- e.g. Be sure to check out other perspectives here or there, to get the full picture.
Label Options
Basically, “Label Options” are ways to share the stuff from “Elements”.
Transparency Note
- e.g. This article is based on my personal experiences and observations as a (your profession/area of expertise). While I strive for accuracy, my views are inevitably shaped by my background. I encourage you to consult diverse sources for a well-rounded understanding.
Behind the Scenes
- In this article, I’m sharing my perspective on (topic), informed by (sources of information, e.g., research, interviews, etc.). I’m fairly confident in the main points, but new evidence could always change my thinking. I welcome your thoughts and alternative perspectives!
Epistemic Status
- Confidence levels as it pertains to me, to others, etc.?
- Level of confidence in the actual claim and how I feel about it? Isn’t this just another way to say that I’m theorizing about something, but it’s not based on actual evidence? Spitballing? Daydreaming?
- I think this is highly improbable, but it’s fun for worldbuilding.. or a good thought experiment
- I think this is very likely doable, but haven’t seen it in play myself.
Epistemic Effort
- How much effort I put into this, what steps I took to write it out, etc.
- Thought about it a lot / Researched extensively / Bare minimum work / Talked to some people / Only looked online