Epistemic Hygiene

Definition

Practices that maintain the accuracy and reliability of one's beliefs. Epistemic hygiene includes source evaluation, bias awareness, and regular belief auditing.

How It Shows Up Internally

Good epistemic hygiene feels like intellectual humility and curiosity. Poor epistemic hygiene might feel like certainty, defensiveness about beliefs, or discomfort with information that challenges existing views.

Examples

1Checking the original source before sharing a claim
2Actively seeking out perspectives that disagree with your own
3Distinguishing between "I believe X" and "I know X"

Related Modules

Source Evaluation

20 min • 2 sections

Misinformation Patterns

15 min • 1 sections

Intellectual Humility

15 min • 1 sections

Related Patterns

filter bubbleconfirmation trap

Related Terms

Intellectual Humility

Recognition of the limits of one's knowledge and the fallibility of one's beliefs. Intellectual humility involves openness to new information and willingness to revise beliefs based on evidence.