The article includes a presentation and analysis of the discussions on epistemic coercion in the journal “Epistemology and Philosophy of Science” (Vol. 61, No. 3) in 2024. On this basis, the main philosophical and epistemological features of epistemic coercion were investigated. First, the views of a number of philosophers on the concept of “epistemic coercion” of the American philosopher Steve Turner are briefly outlined. On this basis, the different positions of the philosophers participating in the discussion are explained. Specific examples are selected from their ideas. The problem is analyzed against the background of different approaches. As a result, a comparison of different positions regarding the philosophical meaning of epistemic obligation allows us to draw a number of general conclusions. The article puts forward the thesis that the meaning of the concept of “epistemic obligation” in the understanding of S. Turner carries a certain paradox. This paradox is associated with the need to carry out scientific creativity regardless of the individual and within the framework of certain a priori conditions in each historical period. That is, the creative personality in all cases is naturally influenced by factors that depend on the nature of a specific individual, social and collective coexistence. This is how any situation of awareness arises. Therefore, it seems more appropriate to speak of “epistemic necessity” rather than “epistemic compulsion” in light of modern scientific demands. This is the main thesis of the paper. The studies of P. Feyerabend and S. Fuller, within the framework of social epistemology and the epistemology of cognitive distribution, occupy a special place in the scientific basis of the study. It is the interplay of cognitive, social, political and scientific-organisational aspects that constitutes the scientific and theoretical basis of the whole article under a common epistemological “umbrella”. To achieve the scientific goal set in the article, an interdisciplinary approach was used. At this time, such methodological principles as intersubjectivity, synergetic formation and dissemination of knowledge were applied. In accordance with these methodological principles, the method of synergetic integration was used.