Post-Truth (The MIT Press Essential Knowledge series)

*Post-Truth* (The MIT Press Essential Knowledge Series) – A Graduate-Level Exploration of the Modern Crisis of Truth**In an era where information overload, digital echo chambers, and political polarization dominate public discourse, *Post-Truth* by Lee McIntyre stands as an essential guide to understanding one of the most pressing issues of our time. As part of The MIT Press Essential Knowledge series, this succinct yet profoundly insightful work takes on the contemporary crisis of truth, dissecting the roots, implications, and philosophical underpinnings of a world that increasingly seems to prioritize belief over fact. For graduate students in fields ranging from philosophy to political theory, communication, and sociology, this book offers a clarifying lens through which we can understand the dynamics of truth, misinformation, and the ethics of knowledge in a post-truth world.### Unmasking the Post-Truth Phenomenon: An Intellectual JourneyAt the core of McIntyre’s *Post-Truth* is the idea that we are living in a moment when traditional concepts of truth and objective reality are being systematically undermined. For graduate students studying ethics, philosophy, and political theory, this work offers an invaluable exploration into the nature of truth in the contemporary world. McIntyre doesn’t merely describe the phenomenon; he rigorously **analyzes the cultural, political, and philosophical forces** that have given rise to the post-truth era, urging students to think critically about the consequences of such an intellectual shift.McIntyre’s argument is both sobering and enlightening. Drawing from the fields of philosophy, psychology, and political science, he demonstrates how **emotion, identity, and ideology** have become powerful drivers in shaping our perceptions of truth. As the lines blur between objective fact and subjective belief, McIntyre warns of the dangers of epistemic relativism, where "truth" becomes a matter of personal preference rather than rational inquiry or empirical evidence.For graduate students in an ethics class, McIntyre’s work raises profound ethical questions: **What is our responsibility in defending the truth in an era where facts are contested?** What does it mean to engage in public discourse when shared facts no longer serve as a foundation for mutual understanding? This book pushes students to reflect not just on the nature of truth, but on the **moral obligations** inherent in protecting it.### The Rise of Misinformation: A Political and Social CrisisOne of the most compelling aspects of McIntyre’s analysis is his exploration of how post-truth thinking has **infected politics and public life**. The political landscape is littered with **alternative facts**, deliberate misinformation, and “fake news,” making it increasingly difficult for citizens to distinguish between reality and rhetoric. McIntyre demonstrates that this is not a mere passing trend but a **structural issue** that threatens the very foundations of democracy.For graduate students studying political ethics, McIntyre’s work is invaluable in examining the **political consequences** of the post-truth era. The rise of populism, the spread of conspiracy theories, and the undermining of expert knowledge are all byproducts of a society where **facts are no longer sacrosanct**. The book provides a thorough analysis of the **moral responsibility** that lies with politicians, the media, and the public in combating the dangerous effects of misinformation.In a graduate ethics class, McIntyre’s insights offer a much-needed opportunity to interrogate how **truth manipulation** can undermine democratic institutions and destabilize societies. Students are invited to consider how ethical principles—such as accountability, transparency, and integrity—can be applied to restore a **shared commitment to facts** in public discourse. McIntyre’s work underscores the importance of **ethical leadership** in this struggle, urging a return to rational dialogue grounded in evidence-based reasoning.### Truth, Objectivity, and the Role of ExpertsA key philosophical question that McIntyre explores is the relationship between truth and objectivity. In a world dominated by post-truth rhetoric, what does it mean to be **objective**? How can we trust expertise when **scientific consensus** is increasingly questioned, and those in power cherry-pick data to fit their agendas?For students in graduate programs focused on ethics, this question is pivotal. *Post-Truth* urges readers to confront the **value of expert testimony** and the **integrity of scientific inquiry** in a world where expertise is often dismissed as “elitist” or “biased.” McIntyre’s examination of the **scientific method** and its role in uncovering truth challenges students to think critically about the delicate balance between **empirical knowledge** and **public perception**.In a graduate class, McIntyre’s arguments offer a timely reflection on the **ethics of knowledge dissemination**. What happens when scientific knowledge is obscured or disregarded for political gain? How do we safeguard intellectual integrity when misinformation is deliberately spread to undermine trusted sources of authority? These questions are at the heart of the ethical challenges presented by the post-truth world, and *Post-Truth* serves as an indispensable text for grappling with them.### The Psychological Dimensions of BeliefWhile the political and philosophical aspects of *Post-Truth* are certainly captivating, McIntyre also delves into the **psychological mechanisms** that make people so susceptible to misinformation. Cognitive biases, the need for cognitive closure, and the influence of social media algorithms all contribute to the spread of falsehoods and the rejection of evidence-based reasoning.For graduate students in fields such as psychology, sociology, or communications, McIntyre’s exploration of the **cognitive roots** of post-truth thinking provides essential insights into why people cling to **false beliefs** in the face of contradictory evidence. His analysis of **confirmation bias**, the echo chamber effect, and the **backfire effect** illuminates how deeply entrenched ideologies can warp perceptions of reality, creating a dangerous disconnect between **fact and belief**.In a graduate classroom, these psychological insights prompt vital discussions about **educational responsibility** in combating misinformation. How do we equip individuals with the critical thinking tools necessary to resist cognitive biases and make informed decisions? *Post-Truth* provides the theoretical and practical foundation for fostering **media literacy**, **critical thinking**, and **civic engagement** in the face of widespread misinformation.### A Call to Action: Restoring the TruthIn the final chapters, McIntyre offers a call to action: How can we reclaim truth in a world increasingly defined by post-truth rhetoric? The answer, he suggests, lies in **reaffirming our commitment to reason, evidence, and dialogue**. The restoration of truth requires not just the efforts of intellectuals, scientists, and political leaders but a **societal shift** toward a renewed respect for facts and shared knowledge.For graduate students, *Post-Truth* functions as both a warning and a roadmap. It reminds us that the crisis of truth is not just an intellectual issue—it is an **ethical and political challenge** that demands immediate attention. Students are encouraged to reflect on their own role in **defending truth**, **challenging misinformation**, and **creating spaces for open dialogue** in their professional and personal lives.### Conclusion: A Must-Read for Graduate ScholarsIn conclusion, *Post-Truth* by Lee McIntyre is a must-read for any graduate student engaged in the study of ethics, philosophy, political theory, and the social sciences. It offers a **timely**, **rigorous**, and **thought-provoking** exploration of the post-truth era, providing students with a wealth of insights into the complex dynamics of truth, misinformation, and belief in the modern world.McIntyre’s work challenges students to think critically about the role of truth in shaping society, the ethical responsibilities of individuals and institutions, and the vital need for **rational discourse** in addressing the many challenges of the post-truth world. This book is not only an invaluable resource for graduate-level coursework—it is also a **call to action** for anyone concerned with the integrity of knowledge, democracy, and public life.*Post-Truth* is more than just a diagnosis of the present moment; it is a blueprint for the future of truth, reason, and intellectual integrity. Whether you’re engaged in political theory, philosophy, or any other field, McIntyre’s book offers critical lessons for navigating the complexities of our post-truth society with wisdom and responsibility.

“In times of universal deceit, telling the truth will be a revolutionary act. —George Orwell”(how did he know?)“The phenomenon of “post-truth” rocketed to public attention in November 2016, when the Oxford Dictionaries named it 2016’ s word of the year. After seeing a 2,000 percent spike in usage over 2015, the choice seemed obvious.”Wow! First I heard of this.“The Oxford Dictionaries define “post-truth” as ‘relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.’”Yep, I definitely, absolutely have heard of this!“Post-truth was foreshadowed by what has happened to science over the last several decades. Once respected for the authority of its method, scientific results are now openly questioned by legions of nonexperts who happen to disagree with them. It is important to point out that scientific results are routinely scrutinized by scientists themselves, but that is not what we are talking about here.’’McIntyre makes a lot of good points in this work. However, the foundation of his argument — unfortunately — seems closer to sand than rock. Why? This appeal to ‘authority of science’ and trust in the ‘scientific method’ will only convince ‘true believers’ in science and scientists.Why weak foundation? Well . . . remember it required thousands of years for Aristarchus of Samos (310 - 230 BC) and his proposal of a sun centered solar system to be adopted. Aristotle made more disciples than Aristarchus. Scientific consensus prevented truth.More modern examples . . .No idea was more scientifically certain than Newton’s universe. Changed not only science, but politics, religion, philosophy, culture and started modernity. What then? Faraday, Maxwell and Einstein replaced that with general relativity. Newton was wrong.‘Luminiferous ether’ was the foundation of physics until early twentieth century. Completely discredited. And of course, now quantum electrodynamics, which nobody can explain.Then we have — dark energy and darker matter. Absolutely no clue!Paul Feyerabend’s “Against Method” and Thomas Kuhn’s “The Structure of Scientific Revolutions’’ both provide abundant reasons to doubt ‘scientific authority’.What is so odd, is that Mcintyre understands this very clearly. For example . . .“Some of this is based on a straightforward misunderstanding (or cynical exploitation) of how science works, based on the mistaken idea that if scientists would just gather enough evidence they could prove a theory. But this is not how science works: no matter how good the evidence, a scientific theory can never be proven true. No matter how rigorously it might have been tested, every theory is “just a theory.” Because of the way that scientific evidence is gathered, it is always theoretically possible that some future piece of data might come along and disprove a theory. This does not mean that scientific theories are unjustified or unworthy of belief. But it does mean that at some point scientists must admit that even their strongest explanations cannot be offered as truth, but only strongly warranted belief based on justification given the evidence.’’Right! In fact, in the last page . . .“It is hard to try to depoliticize factual questions, especially when we feel that the “other side” is being ridiculous or stubborn. It is probably helpful to realize that the same tendencies exist within us too. And there is a lesson here, which is that one of the most important ways to fight back against post-truth is to fight it within ourselves. Whether we are liberals or conservatives, we are all prone to the sorts of cognitive biases that can lead to post-truth. One should not assume that post-truth arises only from others, or that its results are somebody else’s problem. It is easy to identify a truth that someone else does not want to see. But how many of us are prepared to do this with our own beliefs? To doubt something that we want to believe, even though a little piece of us whispers that we do not have all the facts?’’Well said! This is a humble, realistic analysis. Nevertheless, he can’t seem to apply this to popular (his) beliefs such as evolution or climate change. There a lot of serious, sincere, educated, intelligent scientists who find considerable evidence against these ideas.(See: “Chill, a reassessment of global warming theory’’ by Scientist Peter Taylor; “The Climate Caper: Facts and Fallacies of Global Warming’’ by Garth W. Paltridge. Atmospheric Scientist)One problem with entrusting authority is confusing ‘fact’ with ‘conclusion’ . . .“Eventually, when it makes a difference to us, we are capable of resolving our cognitive dissonance by rejecting our ideological beliefs rather than the facts. Indeed, there is good evidence that this can occur not just in the lab but in the real world as well. The city of Coral Gables, Florida, sits at nine feet above sea level. Scientists project that in a few decades it will be under water.’’‘Scientists project’, note a ‘projection’ is a conclusion — not a ‘fact’. It may or may not become a ‘fact’ in the future. Mcintyre processes ‘projections’ as equal to ‘facts’. This is too bad, since his presentation of cognitive bias, motivated reasoning, confirmation bias, etc., is outstanding.1 What Is Post-Truth?2 Science Denial as a Road Map for Understanding Post-Truth3 The Roots of Cognitive Bias4 The Decline of Traditional Media5 The Rise of Social Media and the Problem of Fake News6 Did Postmodernism Lead to Post-Truth?7 Fighting Post-TruthMcintyre really did his research . . .“Commenting on the philosophical thought of Friedrich Nietzsche (who wrote one hundred years before postmodernism, as one of its precursors), Alexis Papazoglou describes this sort of radical skepticism about the notion of truth in the following way:(Nietzsche important. . .)“Once we realise that the idea of an absolute, objective truth is a philosophical hoax, the only alternative is a position called “perspectivism”—the idea there is no one objective way the world is, only perspectives on what the world is like. Think of this as the first thesis of postmodernism: there is no such thing as objective truth. If this is right, though, then how should we react when someone tells us that something is true? Here we arrive at the second thesis of postmodernism: that any profession of truth is nothing more than a reflection of the political ideology of the person who is making it.’’(Mcintyre seems to battle back and forth — truth or no truth?)“Michel Foucault’s idea was that our societal life is defined by language, but language itself is shot through with the relations of power and dominance. This means that at base all knowledge claims are really just an assertion of authority; they are a bullying tactic used by the powerful to force those who are weaker to accept their ideological views. Since there is no such thing as “truth,” anyone who claims to “know” something is really just trying to oppress us, not educate us.’’Yep, modernity has a real problem. This sort of reminds me of the epistemological disputes in the Middle Ages over the connection of ‘faith’ and ‘reason’, and the dispute about ‘universals’ and ‘nominalism’. They grasped the problem.Ten page bibliography (linked)Dozens of notes end of each chapter (linked)Great!