Epistemic Humility and the Transposition of Ethical Duties into Epistemic Duties
A Philosophical and Fiduciary Inquiry into the Normative Foundations of Knowledge
Abstract
This paper introduces the novel philosophical framework of ‘epistemic transposition’, arguing that fiduciary and ethical duties traditionally viewed as purely moral obligations are fundamentally epistemic, grounded in epistemic humility. By reframing fiduciary duties such as openness, honesty, and loyalty as inherently epistemic responsibilities toward knowledge, the paper significantly advances fiduciary theory and epistemic virtue ethics. It positions epistemic humility as a foundational normative virtue essential to fiduciary accountability and institutional governance, thus redefining how fiduciary obligations and ethical responsibilities are understood and operationalised. This reconceptualisation contributes a groundbreaking theoretical integration, reshaping philosophical discourses around epistemic responsibility, fiduciary openness, and institutional accountability.
Keywords
epistemic humility, epistemic transposition, fiduciary theory, fiduciary duties, epistemic virtue ethics, institutional governance, epistemic accountability, ethical obligations, fiduciary openness, epistemology, ethics
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Peter Kahl, ‘Epistemic Humility and the Transposition of Ethical Duties into Epistemic Duties’ (Github, 2025) <https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Peter-Kahl/Epistemic-Humility-and-the-Transposition-of-Ethical-Duties-into-Epistemic-Duties/master/Kahl%20P%2C%20Epistemic%20Humility%20and%20the%20Transposition%20of%20Ethical%20Duties%20into%20Epistemic%20Duties%20(21%20June%202025).pdf>