The Usmeka System of Thought: Decolonising Science to Open Spaces of Epistemic Justice. Issue 1 (7th April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vargas-Mariño, Andrés Felipe
• Is Part Of: Horizontes decoloniales. Number 7:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 129
• Page End: 158
• Publication Date: 2022-04-07
• Subjects: Decolonización de la ciencia -- Justicia epistémica -- Emancipación epistémica -- Conocimiento subalterno -- Pensamiento decolonial -- Estudios sociales de la ciencia; Decolonização da ciência -- Justiça epistêmica -- Emancipação epistêmica -- Conhecimento subalterno -- Pensamento decolonial -- Estudos sociais da ciência; decolonisation of science -- epistemic justice -- epistemic emancipation -- subaltern knowledge -- decolonial thinking -- social studies of science; Religion and politics -- Periodicals; Postcolonial theology -- Periodicals; Postcolonial theology; Religion and politics; Periodicals; 201.72
• DOI: 10.13169/decohori.7.1.0129
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2422-6343

Abstract

Abstract : The ontological turn in humanities and social sciences exposed how the power structures supporting scientific knowledge production exclude non-Western relational knowledges as epistemologically invalid. Thus, the responses to this exclusionary knowledge production infrastructure range from anti-scientific to using science to validate indigenous knowledges. However, those responses overlook subaltern spiritualities and how they decolonise science to open epistemic emancipatory spaces. Based on ethnographic research, this article describes the Usmeka community in Bogotá. While addressing scientific knowledge as a mid-level language to dialogue with nature, it mobilises epistemological emancipation possibilities. The analysis contributes to understanding how colonial subjects subvert scientific inquiry as a tool of epistemic control.