Online Echo Chambers and Epistemic Humility: Exploring the Intersection of Politics, Human Nature, and Virtue

Abstract

The following thesis seeks to address the phenomenon of online echo chambers and their ethical implications. The first two chapters focus on evaluating what I label the standard narrative. This term refers to the popular idea that ideologically homogenous Internet spaces are, to a large extent, caused by algorithmic filtering. I argue that the standard narrative, though intuitively plausible, is not supported by the current body of empirical evidence. The third chapter then seeks to address this gap in explanation. I argue that key features of the echo chamber problem, which have troubled the standard narrative, are most parsimoniously explained by an appeal to human nature. Building upon this new insight, chapter four suggests a new normative framework with which to assess the problem. Viewing the wrongs of the echo chamber as courting the vices of moral self-righteousness and complacency, I argue that cultivating the virtue of epistemic humility may guard against this problem. Lastly, in chapter five, I construct a counteracting strategy. In an effort to provide more concrete action guidance, I evaluate and suggest solutions in light of the demands of epistemic humility and the restrictions of human nature.