Published 11 September 2026 · Text V1 · Agentic package A1

Introduction

Large language models can reproduce the discursive form of knowledge without performing the operations through which knowledge is produced, justified, and made accountable. This creates a specific risk for researchers: the appearance of their intellectual contribution can be replicated without the inquiry that made it possible.

The Introduction defines this problem as a threat of epistemic irrelevance. It then outlines a normative epistemology for hybrid human–LLM research. Epistemic responsibility, independent validation, and disciplinary judgment must remain with the researcher if LLMs are to accelerate inquiry without replacing its substance.

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Citation

Frega, Roberto. 2026. “Introduction.” In The Driver’s Seat: An Introduction to the Epistemology of LLMs. Version V1 / A1. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22706461.