Epistemic Harm in Empathy

Abstract

This paper delves into the intricacies of the concept of epistemic harm. Particularly, epistemic harm is used as a case study to gain insights into the efficacy and distinctiveness of the concept of harm vis-à-vis related constructs such as violence and trauma within the domain of social psychology. The paper underscores the pertinence of the concept of epistemic harm in the context of empathetic testimonial exchange using autism studies as a sample case. Subsequently, empathy is characterised as innately engendering epistemic harm, manifesting both at the inter-subjective and intra-subjective levels. The paper concludes with a contemplation on the significance of the idea of epistemic harm within the broader field of harm research.