ABSTRACT

Current epistemic governance analyses in higher education ignore systemic power relations between Northern and Southern researchers. This paper does focus on previous approaches to understanding epistemic governance, but rather moves beyond these towards a Southern evaluative and prospective comprehension. The paper is primarily theoretical. We draw on Fricker’s theorizing of epistemic justice, but note the importance of the institutional. Amartya Sen’s capability approach enables envisioning possibilities for change at individual and systemic levels, placing agency and epistemic freedoms at the centre of epistemic governance to foster solidarity and reflexive actions for change. To make the case, the paper explores testimonial and hermeneutical (including hermeneutic obstruction) injustices in research, presenting unfair practices and the unjust consequences for scholars in the South arising from ‘the colonial epistemic structure’. The paper proposes that this structure, and its West-centric episteme, shapes epistemic governance which, among other effects, invisibilizes race and racism and is unable to account for the experiences of Southern subjects. The paper concludes by suggesting that it is a moral responsibility in higher education to exercise reasoned agency to promote equal epistemic opportunities, especially for those situated on the wrong side of the epistemic line. This requires epistemic humility and ethical responsibility.

摘要

当前的高等教育认知治理分析忽略了北方和南方研究人员之间的系统性权力关系。本文确实侧重于以前理解认知治理的方法，而是超越这些方法，转向南方的评估和前瞻性理解。这篇论文主要是理论性的。我们借鉴弗里克的认知正义理论，但注意到制度的重要性。Amartya Sen 的能力方法能够设想在个人和系统层面发生变化的可能性，将代理和认知自由置于认知治理的中心，以促进团结和反身行动以促进变革。为了证明这一点，本文探讨了研究中的证词和解释学（包括解释学障碍）不公正现象，向南方学者展示因“殖民认知结构”而产生的不公平做法和不公正后果。该论文提出，这种结构及其以西方为中心的认识论塑造了认识论治理，除其他影响外，它使种族和种族主义隐形，并且无法解释南方主体的经历。该论文最后表明，在高等教育中行使合理的代理权以促进平等的认知机会是一种道德责任，尤其是对于那些位于认知线错误一边的人。这需要认知上的谦逊和道德责任感。隐藏了种族和种族主义，无法解释南方受试者的经历。该论文最后表明，在高等教育中行使合理的代理权以促进平等的认知机会是一种道德责任，尤其是对于那些位于认知线错误一边的人。这需要认知上的谦逊和道德责任感。隐藏了种族和种族主义，无法解释南方受试者的经历。该论文最后表明，在高等教育中行使合理的代理权以促进平等的认知机会是一种道德责任，尤其是对于那些位于认知线错误一边的人。这需要认知上的谦逊和道德责任感。