Situation-Specific Purposes and Epistemic Games: A Framework for Teaching the Evaluation of Causal Information

This paper introduces a framework to help laypeople evaluate scientific information based on specific purposes, addressing a gap in science education that often overlooks the appropriateness of information for particular needs. The framework is grounded in the philosophical classification of causal information relevant to causal inference, explanation, prediction, and control, and categorizes this information into two epistemic games: difference-makers search and production-or-mechanisms search. By understanding these games, individuals can better assess scientific information's merits and limitations. The paper also discusses how this framework can be integrated into educational settings, using genetics education as an example, to enhance students' ability to critically engage with scientific information and make informed decisions.