Epistemic Humility Across Cultural Knowledge Systems

Despite her mastery of European scholasticism, Sor Juana engaged seriously with indigenous knowledge, pre-Columbian ideas, and non-European intellectual traditions available in New Spain. This epistemic humility contradicts the colonial assumption that European Christendom monopolizes truth. In contemporary political identity, this concept challenges Western exceptionalism and validates decolonial epistemologies, indigenous science, and non-dominant knowledge systems as legitimate political resources. It enables genuine cross-cultural political dialogue rather than cultural imperialism disguised as universal reason. Across cultures, practicing epistemic humility means political leaders, institutions, and majorities must actively work to understand minority worldviews, recognize their coherence and sophistication, and adjust governance and policy accordingly. It transforms knowledge diversity from threat into strength.