Intelligence and Social Epistemology - Toward a Social Epistemological Theory of Intelligence

Evidence, beliefs, and knowledge are words that are currently used in the intelligence community. The primary goal of intelligence is to provide knowledge and foreknowledge of an enemy’s intentions and behavior. Social epistemology considers how organizations and societies (group-agents) form beliefs and knowledge. Social epistemology provides powerful tools to investigate intelligence. Indeed, intelligence studies are not focused on epistemological problems, although intelligence is a social epistemic activity. Even if scholars agree that intelligence is valuable because it speaks the truth to the policy-maker, an epistemological theory of intelligence is still far from formulated. I will provide a general account of intelligence agencies to make a first attempt toward a social epistemological theory of intelligence.