Our ability to know and think well depends on the communities we belong to, says philosopher Marcelo Cabral. “Belonging is part of what makes knowledge possible.” He urges educators and policymakers to rebuild trust and cooperation as foundations for responsible knowledge sharing.
“Knowing is not something we do alone,” says Cabral, whose study shows that belonging to epistemic communities, groups where people share and evaluate knowledge, shapes how we form and justify beliefs. “We usually imagine knowledge as something individual,” he explains. “But almost everything we know comes from others: teachers, scientists, journalists, friends. My main conclusion is that belonging is not just a social fact; it is part of what makes knowledge possible. Healthy communities strengthen our ability to think well, while unhealthy ones can distort our view of the world.”
Shared responsibility
He continues: “Understanding knowledge this way helps explain why trust, cooperation, and shared responsibility are essential for a healthy public life and why the breakdown of these bonds often leads to confusion and misinformation.”
Rebuild trust
Cabral argues that in an age of disinformation and division, the problem is not only about facts but about belonging. “People trust information that comes from the groups they identify with,” he says. He suggests that educators, journalists, and policymakers can help rebuild trust by creating environments that promote cooperation and intellectual responsibility. “For example, schools and universities can teach students how to belong to communities that value truth and understanding.”
Strengthen democratic life
Such steps can begin immediately through educational programs and public communication initiatives. “In the long run,” Cabral concludes, “this perspective can strengthen democratic life by helping societies sustain communities where knowledge and truth matter more than group loyalty.”
Illustration
Georges Seurat, Un dimanche après-midi à l’Île de la Grande Jatte (1884–1886).
Art Institute of Chicago. Public domain / CC0 1.0. Source : Art Institute of Chicago