Epistemic Paternalism via Conceptual Engineering

Abstract This essay focuses on conceptual engineers who aim to improve other people's patterns of inference and attention by shaping their concepts. Such sometimes engage in a form epistemic paternalism that I call paternalistic cognitive engineering : instead explicitly persuading, informing educating others, the non-consultatively rely assumptions about target agents’ systems belief forming. The agents could reasonably regard such benevolent exercises control as violating sovereignty over own formation. is pro tanto reason against engineering. In addition relevant projects engineering, plausibly includes certain kinds nudging evidence suppression. distinguish sovereignty-based concern from ethical worries discuss how one might justify despite them.