Epistemic Injustice and the Witch Hunts: Suppression of Knowledge and Marginalized Voices in Early Modern Europe

Resumen

The witch hunts of the early modern period were not only a tragic episode of mass persecution but also a profound case of epistemic injustice. Thousands of individuals, primarily women, were accused, tortured, and executed based on deeply ingrained biases and flawed evidentiary practices. This paper examines the witch trials through the lens of epistemic injustice, particularly testimonial and hermeneutical injustice, as conceptualized by Miranda Fricker. It explores how societal structures systematically silenced the accused and erased their knowledge, particularly in the domains of medicine and spirituality. The study also highlights how religious and legal institutions manipulated epistemic authority, suppressing dissenting voices and alternative knowledge systems. By analyzing these historical injustices, this paper underscores the enduring consequences of credibility denial and interpretive exclusion, drawing parallels to modern issues of marginalized knowledge.