#17 Navigating Post-Truth | Interviewing the Founder of Social Epistemology Steve Fuller

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#17 Navigating Post-Truth | Interviewing the Founder of Social Epistemology Steve Fuller

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In this episode I chat with philosopher Steve Fuller - the founder of a field called Social Epistemology. He - among other things - thinks that the Post-Truth era we're in has a lot of advantages. He thinks it's the natural progression of the democratisation of knowledge, and that the game has permanently changed.This episode challenged a lot of my views on epistemology, and I think if you're someone at all concerned with post-truth/misinformation/knowledge generation, you'll get something out of it.Specifically we talk about:The definition and scope of social epistemology as studying the social roots of knowledgeThe individualistic bias in traditional epistemology and its social extensionHow scientific consensus functions and its limitations in a post-truth landscapeThe conceptual framework of trust, delegation of risk, and accountability in expertiseChallenges of verifying information in the era of social media and misinformationThe impact of AI and technological change on the future of learning and knowledge productionThe role of the intellectual as a truth-teller and critic of groupthinkThe influence of conspiracy theories and meta-languages in shaping worldviewsThe importance of education, curation, and rhetorical skills in developing discernmentThe resilience of democratic systems and the need for checks, balances, and reversibilityTIMESTAMPS:00:00 - I intro the episode02:45 - Introduction to media, knowledge, and the social roots of epistemology03:46 - What is social epistemology? Studying the social foundations of knowledge05:14 - The individualistic bias in traditional epistemology and its limitations06:29 - How social sciences contribute to understanding knowledge as a social process08:31 - The received wisdom of scientific consensus and its limitations09:30 - Trust as delegation of risk and accountability in expertise09:59 - Risks and uncertainties in making knowledge-based decisions10:57 - The role of expertise and the accountability of scientists and public health officials12:23 - The delegation of risk in novel situations (e.g., COVID-19) and responsibility13:50 - Post-truth: definitions, emotional judgment, and the demonization of alternative views15:31 - The conspiracy mentality and cargo cult science in modern beliefs16:29 - How meta-languages and different frames of reference influence perceptions of truth18:02 - Living in a world of ambiguous meanings and incomplete evidence19:24 - The plurality of meta-languages and the challenges for social coherence20:22 - Education, informed skepticism, and the democratization of knowledge21:13 - The resilience of systems like the US Constitution and democratic checks22:12 - The shift from science as a unified truth to multiple, competing meta-languages23:33 - Examples from social media: the Elon Musk saluting clip and the dress debate24:59 - Language battles in cultural and political contexts, e.g., trans debates26:25 - The limits of deliberation and slow democracy in a fast-paced digital world27:35 - Democratization, leveling of credibility, and risks of populism29:54 - Mechanisms like elections and reversibility as safeguards in democracy30:54 - The importance of constitutional design and checks on power32:38 - The influence of social media, misinformation, and the need for vigilance34:03 - Decision-making in fields outside one's expertise and the role of skin-in-the-game35:27 - Gambling and risk management as metaphors for epistemic correction37:32 - Medical choices and the social dynamics of traditional versus alternative medicine38:30 - Conspiracy theories: cargo cult science and the kernel of truth within them41:01 - The limits of holistic conspiracy narratives and the importance of falsifiability43:16 - The nature of information, power, and meta-languages in belief systems46:34 - Cults, meta-languages, and framing in understanding across belief boundaries48:37 - Recognizing the strategic communication of intellectuals and the role of truth50:12 - The career of figures like Jordan Peterson: influence, controversy, and resilience52:42 - Future of scientific revolutions, AI, and the changing landscape of knowledge55:54 - The need for new metaphysics and the role of imagination in science57:50 - Would Steve Fuller go to university if he were 18 today?59:20 - The shape of knowledge: whole units, integrity, and the importance of curation60:47 - The craft of writing, remixing ideas, and reflexivity in scholarship62:50 - The importance of deliberate practice, observation, and self-assessment in intellectual work65:52 - The evolution of media, from live broadcasts to AI and deepfakes68:45 - The role of intellectuals as disruptors and truth-tellers in society71:12 - The vulnerability, aspirations, and social responsibilities of intellectuals73:07 - The charisma and influence of public intellectuals, exemplified by figures like Hitchens and Peterson78:00 - The social function of provocative speech and challenging groupthink79:54 - The debate ...

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