Epistemic trust and authority

Epistemic trust refers to the mental or intellectual bond between the Self and Others, which takes two forms. First, it concerns the participants’ mutual trust that they share a common ground for understanding, communication and interpretation of their social reality. Second, it arises from the explicit awareness that the participants differ with respect to their understanding of their common ground and are willing to learn from an epistemic authority. Authority is a voluntary symbolic relation between the Self and Others. It contrasts with power, which refers to a relation of coercion that enforces obedience. The growing democratization of institutions and liberalization, as well as growing distrust of professionals, scientists and politicians, together with the emphasis on the rights of individuals and minority groups, has led to a crisis of authority.