The Division of Cognitive Labor

Abstract

My [article] is intended to raise an important, if neglected, problem about the growth of science. Is it possible that there should be a mismatch between the demands of individual rationality and those of collective (or community) rationality? Could it turn out that high-minded inquirers, following principles of individual rationality, should do a poor job of promoting the epistemic projects of the community that they constitute? Might those with baser motives actually do more to advance their community's epistemic endeavors? Are there conditions under which, in light of our goals as an epistemic community, we ought to want to maintain cognitive diversity? What, if anything, do we do, or can we do, about it?