Socio-epistemic construction processes at Alvin I. Goldman

In this study, the theory of social epistemology, which is considered to be one of the most up-to-dated fields of contemporary epistemology, and the structural processes that constitute its implications, are examined based on the perspective of Alvin I. Goldman. Goldman analyzed epistemology mainly as individual and social epistemology. In both areas, Goldman has tried to define and evaluate the contribution of epistemic stages, practices and methods, processes and mechanisms to the emergence of a true belief, in a positive or negative sense. Despite the traditional epistemology's reliance on the standard three-part analysis (JTB) approach, Goldman tried to demonstrate in his socio-epistemic approach that a three-part approach alone would not be sufficient from a veritist point of view. Goldman thought that such a form of analysis would not be sufficient to achieve a consensus in the expression of knowledge. He included more extrinsic and functional elements such as collateral/guarantee, causal condition, process reliability, veritism to his social epistemology approach, which he described as real epistemology. Goldman provided the transition to a social epistemology in which external elements predominate, without completely breaking away from the traditional or foundational understanding. In his social epistemology, Goldman showed a moderate level of synthesizing of internal and external impulses, mainly in the processes of cognition. He saw the inadequacy of "justified true belief" in the socio-epistemic context and tried to go beyond a traditionally dogmatic, contemporary skeptical understanding of epistemology. According to Goldman, knowledge required someone to believe in something; this necessitated associating the correctness of a condition or fact with the reasons and the reliability of the processes. Goldman argued that we can move towards a more veritistic, realistic, durable, and reliable understanding of using our knowing tools to create truth. He tried to reveal that this can be achieved largely by following externalist collateral elements, degettierization processes and then positive epistemic status. Goldman found interpersonal consensus as a positive element in terms of its relationship with truth, and tried to include socio-epistemic testimony and institutionalized beliefs as the basic sources of knowledge, just like perception and consciousness. Thus, with the help of elements such as interaction, relationship, trust and agreement, the concepts of traditional epistemology have undergone a structural transformation, making the formation of social knowledge possible. According to Goldman, the epistemic agent (doksastic agent) has a social context, and in this sense, knowledge and justifications must now be shared with other minds. Thus, episteme, which has become dependent on time, place and culture of the society, will also constitute the source of social epistemology.