ROGERIO FEERNANDES MARTINS

The thesis proposed in this project aims to investigate how the phenomenon of group polarization challenges traditional views of collective intentionality, as proposed by philosophers such as Bratman, Searle, and Gilbert. The research argues that current formulations of collective intentionality fail to adequately capture the dynamics present in polarized groups. Group polarization occurs when groups of like-minded individuals, through deliberation, end up radicalizing their opinions. This phenomenon has been widely observed on social media, where opinion bubbles frequently lead to pronounced divisions in public opinion, with disaggregating consequences. The thesis proposes the development of a new conception of collective intentionality that takes into account polarized contexts. This new perspective will be informed by philosophical reflections based on the ideas of the later Wittgenstein, particularly those expressed in his work “On Certainty”, and in the recent works of Donald Davidson. Furthermore, the project will integrate mathematical and computational models of social influence to better understand and explain the dynamics of opinions within a polarized group.