The Epistemic Value of Multi‐source Expertise

Hybrid advisory committees comprise different actors –practitioners, stakeholders, lay citizens and academics. Thereby generated knowledge differs from knowledge generated within academia, on which epistemology and Science and Technology Studies (STS) have focused. Indeed academics represent just one type of expert amongst others who contribute to the collective production of expertise within these settings. Yet, in contrast to scientific notions of knowledge, we lack assessment criteria of the epistemic value of such negotiated, multi‐source expertise. The paper develops standards and criteria to assess the epistemic value of multi‐source expertise. It builds on research in Social Epistemology, on STS accounts acknowledging the social embeddedness of sources of evidence as well as on knowledge utilization studies. Hybrid “expert committees” in the EU and Germany, their role and governance potential in a ‘Europe of Knowledge’ are analyzed. The approach considers experts multiple backgrounds, policy relevance of expertise and social constitution of knowledge.