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What is Street Epistemology?
What is Street Epistemology?
At its heart, Street Epistemology (SE) is about empowering thoughtful conversations. It’s a method for helping people explore their beliefs, understand the foundations of their reasoning, and inspire critical reflection—a potent mixture that can lead to profound growth and change.
SE isn’t about debate or winning arguments; it’s about meaningful exchanges that usually end with gratitude and contemplation. By asking the right questions, Street Epistemology helps uncover the reasoning behind our beliefs, resulting in the kind of reflection that can lead to real change.
Street Epistemology is a way to help people critically reflect on the quality of their reasoning through civil conversation.
The General Steps of Street Epistemology
Street Epistemology follows a flexible, collaborative process designed to result in more effective conversations. You can also think of the method as a series of high-level steps. These steps are covered in greater detail throughout the rest of the Navigating Beliefs course.
Step 1: Build and Establish Genuine Rapport
Build trust and create a safe, respectful space for dialogue.
Covered in Module 6: Building and Maintaining Rapport
Step 2: Identify a Specific Claim to Explore
Narrow down the discussion to a single, clear, and meaningful belief.
Covered in Module 7: Identifying and Clarifying Claims
Step 3: Gauge Confidence
Use scales to explore how certain someone feels about their belief.
Covered in Module 8: Using Confidence Scales
Step 4: Explore Reasons
Unpack the justifications behind the belief and evaluate their strength.
Covered in Module 9: Identifying and Clarifying Reasons
Step 5: Examine Quality of Reasoning
Delve into how they assess the validity of their reasons and beliefs.
Covered in Module 10: Evaluating the Quality of Reasoning
Street Epistemology is Also a Movement
Street Epistemology began as an idea and has grown into an informal global practice. It facilitates meaningful conversations about beliefs and helps individuals explore their reasoning with openness and curiosity.
SE is also a community of individuals who value critical thinking, civil dialogue, and intellectual humility. Through forums, meetups, and projects, SE connects people eager to reflect on and understand diverse perspectives.
Beyond conversations, SE influences education, activism, and conflict resolution, empowering individuals to think critically and bridge divides in an increasingly polarized world.
Learn more about Street Epistemology communities.
SEE COMMUNITIESWhat Street Epistemology is Not
Street Epistemology is not about debating or proving someone wrong. Unlike debates, which often aim to score points or win an argument, SE focuses on understanding beliefs and the reasoning behind them through collaborative and respectful dialogue.
While SE shares similarities with methods like deep canvassing, motivational interviewing, or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), it has a distinct focus. SE emphasizes exploring the foundations of beliefs through open-ended questions and critical reflection rather than addressing behaviors or leveraging emotional narratives.
Street Epistemology stands apart as a neutral, curiosity-driven practice, grounded in tools like confidence scales and calibrated questioning, ensuring conversations remain non-confrontational and centered on meaningful exploration.
Free Learning Course for Rational Conversations
Ready to transform your discussions? The Navigating Beliefs course offers a robust, timely, and accessible way to learn Street Epistemology in an informal, easy-to-understand format for a wide audience.
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