Policy epistemics for critical policy inquiry: Notes on the construction of knowledge and arguments in discursive politics

This chapter brings the book to a close by putting forth a number of thoughts and observations for future investigations. To this end, it outlines various epistemic issues essential for critical policy inquiry, or what is referred to here as “policy epistemics.” The discussion begins by spelling out the idea of policy epistemics, stressing distinctions between expert and ordinary knowledge. The chapter then considers the requirements for public deliberation, particularly from the perspective of public enlightenment. This is followed by an examination of other forms of knowledge-local, tacit, and emotional knowledge-important for both deliberative practices and critical policy analysis. To facilitate a wider range of perspectives for critical deliberation and analysis, the chapter outlines various issues relevant to the task of bringing these forms of knowledge together. It closes with some preliminary thoughts about the relation of critical policy argumentation to policy politics and political struggle.