Epistemic Injustice: Power and the Ethics of Knowing

Epistemic Injustice: Power and the Ethics of Knowing by Miranda Fricker, published in 2007, is a groundbreaking work at the intersection of epistemology, ethics, and social theory. In this influential book, Fricker introduces the concept of epistemic injustice—the harm done to someone specifically in their capacity as a knower.

She identifies two central forms of epistemic injustice: testimonial injustice, where a speaker’s word is given less credibility due to prejudice (such as racism or sexism), and hermeneutical injustice, where a gap in collective interpretive resources leaves marginalised groups unable to make sense of their experiences (e.g., lacking the language to articulate sexual harassment before the term existed). Fricker argues that these injustices are not just cognitive failures but moral wrongs rooted in power imbalances.

Rich with philosophical insight and real-world relevance, Epistemic Injustice has become a foundational text in contemporary epistemology, feminist philosophy, and critical theory. It continues to shape discussions on knowledge, identity, and justice, offering a powerful framework for understanding how power shapes not only who gets heard, but what can be known at all.

Product Details:

• ISBN: 0198237901
• EAN: 9780198237907
• Publisher: OUP Oxford
• Binding: Hardcover
• Copyright Date: 2007
• Pub Date: August 23, 2007
• Physical Info: 1.85 cms H x 20.57 cms L x 14.94 cms W (0.38 kgs), 198 pages