Is truth dead? Despite unprecedented access to information, “alternative” facts compete with actual facts, fake news with mainstream news, and expert knowledge with gut hunches and whatever feels correct. Such is the so-called post-truth era. Can democracies survive it?
This course examines the extent, causes, and consequences of the post-truth era. We will explore ignorance, misinformation, conspiracy theories, science denialism, declining trust in expertise, polarization, journalism, social media, propaganda, bullshit, and populism, drawing on philosophy, political theory, media studies, and the behavioral and social sciences.
We will also ask what truth and knowledge democracy requires. What duties do citizens, political actors, experts, and governments have when engaging in public disagreement? When should policymakers rely on expertise, regulate speech, disclose information, or preserve secrecy? And how might democratic institutions rebuild trust without sacrificing other important values? Students will develop conceptual tools for understanding the post-truth era and evaluating what public policymakers can—and should—do about it.