Epistemic and Non-epistemic Values in Earthquake Engineering

Area of Science:

• Philosophy of Science
• Earthquake Engineering
• Risk Assessment

Background:

• Epistemic values are crucial in science, but non-epistemic values' role, especially in applied sciences, is debated.
• Earthquake engineering, a field rarely explored in philosophical literature, presents a unique case for examining value influences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the interplay of epistemic and non-epistemic values in seismic hazard model assessment.
• To investigate how these values influence the selection, evaluation, and aggregation of earthquake hazard models.

Main Methods:

• Case study analysis of earthquake engineering practices.
• Philosophical examination of value judgments in scientific modeling.
• Distinguishing the roles of epistemic and non-epistemic values in model selection and aggregation.

Main Results:

• Seismic hazard model selection and evaluation are primarily justified by epistemic values, though contingently influenced by non-epistemic values.
• Aggregation of diverse seismic hazard models into ensembles is justified by non-epistemic values, with epistemic values playing an instrumental role.
• Both value types are critical when selecting among alternative models under scientific uncertainty.

Conclusions:

• A nuanced understanding of epistemic and non-epistemic values is essential for informed decision-making in earthquake hazard modeling.
• Recognizing these value influences enhances the practical application of scientific models in engineering.
• This study highlights the importance of considering diverse values in applied scientific fields facing uncertainty.