Recent Work in Standpoint Epistemology

Identity Politics and the Democratization of Democracy: Oscillations Between Power and Reason in Radical Democratic and Standpoint Theory

“…The analysis of these perspectives shows that due to their situatedness, they achieve knowledge that remains undisclosed to the hegemonic perspective but needs to be taken into account to achieve strong objectivity. Thus, standpoint theories are not simply about the pluralization of knowledge; they also assign epistemic privilege to oppressed knowledges (Toole, 2021).…”

Out of the shadows: An epistemological examination of family childcare in Canada

“…Standpoint theory clearly illustrates the realizations that I had as an educator in the minority group of family childcare working within a system targeted to the dominant perspective of large childcare centres. Standpoint theory posits that social identity guides knowledge acquisition and allows development of conceptual resources (Toole, 2022), and describes how marginalized or less powerful people, like family childcare educators, have the potential for a more holistic view of a situation precisely because of their disadvantaged position (Nielsen, 1990;Toole, 2021). Out of necessity to survive, those in subordinate groups must be aware of their own circumstances as well as the views of the dominant group, which are epistemic features that "make it more likely that a belief is true" (Toole, 2021, p. 338).…”

Introduction

“…The epistemological challenges confronted include issues of active ignorance, epistemic injustice, and situated knowledge. What does it mean to achieve a feminist standpoint (Wylie 2012;Toole 2021)? How can we begin thought from lived experiences different from our own (Harding 1990;Narayan 2003)?…”