Chris Haufe (Case Western Reserve University)
I propose to model scientific consensus as a population-level state akin to fixation in population genetics. Using this analogy, we can derive a variety of interesting theses regarding the nature of scientific consensus and the processes which lead to it. We can then use these theses as guidance for how to understand the normative significance of scientific consensus within science. Finally, we can connect these normative lessons regarding scientific knowledge with broader themes in normative epistemology.
