Wylie's Perspective on Epistemological Privilege

Evaluating the accuracy of potential knowledge is essential in developing an understanding of the world. According to the theory of situated knowledge, however, this process isn't as simple as observing from a neutral, unattached perspective. Rather, the theory suggests that your situation and past experiences heavily influence what knowledge you hold, why you hold it, and your likelihood of accepting differing information. If perspective indeed influences what knowledge you hold, it follows that there is the potential for some people to have more accurate perspectives than others. I argue that feminist empiricism accounts for this more honestly and appropriately than standpoint theory, but that feminist empiricism must be thoughtfully applied to avoid being inappropriately inclusive of every perspective.

Standpoint theory centres on the “inversion hypothesis,” suggesting that those who are oppressed or marginalized by structures of systematic domination may have epistemological privilege. This privilege, Wylie explains, could manifest itself in the marginalized understanding things that the dominant group may be unaware of, or as a deeper understanding of the situation around them, stemming from their ability to relate to the powerful while having experienced being powerless (Wylie, 26). Wylie attempts to disassociate standpoint theory from two of its common criticisms, one of which is the assumption of automatic epistemic privilege for marginalized groups (28). Wylie suggests that it is instead positions that “put the critically conscious knower in a position to grasp the effects of power relations” which offer the epistemic privilege (34). However, this response leads to two unworkable interpretations. If Wylie's adjustment i...

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...ut that isn't a reason for discrediting them on other suggestions. By realizing that what privileges someone in one regard might actually hinder them in another, we can better discuss and incorporate a range of perspectives.

The realization that knowledge is situated powerfully affects how we generate knowledge. While standpoint theory offers a valuable critique that validates previously ignored perspectives, even Wylie's perspective on epistemological privilege is difficult to accept. A tempered and thoughtfully implemented feminist empiricism, therefore, offers a better way of understanding and generating knowledge in our dynamic and varied world.

Works Cited

Wylie, Alison. "Why Standpoint Matters," in Science and Other Cultures: Issues in Philosophies of Science and Technology, edited by Robert Figueroa and Sandra Harding, Routledge, New York, 2003, pp. 26-48.