A critical term for the modern system where facts and data are no longer neutral discoveries but mass-produced commodities. In this "industry," evidence is generated, packaged, and marketed to serve pre-determined political agendas, corporate interests, or ideological conclusions. Think of it as a factory where the desired product (a specific narrative) is designed first, and the raw materials (studies, statistics, expert testimony) are then selectively manufactured or sourced to fit. It turns truth-seeking into a supply-chain management problem for power.
Evidence Industry Example: During a major policy debate—like on climate change or public health—opposing think tanks, media conglomerates, and university labs funded by interested parties all churn out a flood of conflicting reports, charts, and "expert" opinions. This isn't an accident of science; it's the Evidence Industry at work. The public is left drowning in a sea of manufactured certainty, unable to find solid ground because every fact has a corporate or ideological barcode.
by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 6, 2026
Get the Evidence Industry mug.The principle that what counts as legitimate "evidence" depends on the context and the question being asked. It rejects the idea that only quantitative, statistical data from controlled experiments constitutes valid proof. Under this view, a patient's detailed narrative, a historical document, an ethnographic observation, or a logical model can all serve as robust evidence within their respective domains of inquiry.
Example: In a court of law, Evidence Pluralism is the rule. The case is built on forensic data (DNA), documentary evidence (a contract), testimonial evidence (an eyewitness account), and expert interpretation (a psychologist's analysis). Dismissing the witness's story because it's not a DNA strand would be absurd. Different questions (Who was there? What happened?) require different forms of proof.
by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 6, 2026
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