The Role of Philosophy in “Post-Truth” Times
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Paul Redding
Abstract
The challenge to the “universal point of view” represented by the election of Donald Trump in 2016 is treated here as a challenge to the conception of “the open society” that many had adopted after the Second World War. Karl Popper’s influential modelling of democratic decision making on an idealised conception of the achievement of scientific consensus coincides with the polarisation of the “knowledge classes” from Trump’s “forgotten people”. A different conception of philosophy and its role in modern society is required as a non-scientistic alternative for reconciling the universal point of view with the views of the broader populace.
Abstract
The challenge to the “universal point of view” represented by the election of Donald Trump in 2016 is treated here as a challenge to the conception of “the open society” that many had adopted after the Second World War. Karl Popper’s influential modelling of democratic decision making on an idealised conception of the achievement of scientific consensus coincides with the polarisation of the “knowledge classes” from Trump’s “forgotten people”. A different conception of philosophy and its role in modern society is required as a non-scientistic alternative for reconciling the universal point of view with the views of the broader populace.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Table of Contents V
- Acknowledgements VII
- Introduction: Why Philosophy? IX
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I. What Is Philosophy?
- Doing Philosophy 3
- The House Always Wins: Why Philosophy Isn’t Optional 15
- Why We Need Philosophy – and Philosophers 27
- Irreverent Thoughts on the Relevance of Philosophy 41
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II. What can Philosophy Contribute?
- Philosophy, Bias, and Stigma 51
- Thinking Failure in the War in Iraq: The Cultural Turn and the Concept of “World” 65
- The Role of Philosophy in “Post-Truth” Times 81
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III. What can Philosophy do?
- A Robot Took My Boyfriend and My Job: Positioning Philosophy for a Resurgence 105
- Good for Nothing: On Philosophy and its Discontents 123
- On Thinking in a Thoughtless Time 151
- Contributors 173
- Index of Names 177
- Index of Subjects 181
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Table of Contents V
- Acknowledgements VII
- Introduction: Why Philosophy? IX
-
I. What Is Philosophy?
- Doing Philosophy 3
- The House Always Wins: Why Philosophy Isn’t Optional 15
- Why We Need Philosophy – and Philosophers 27
- Irreverent Thoughts on the Relevance of Philosophy 41
-
II. What can Philosophy Contribute?
- Philosophy, Bias, and Stigma 51
- Thinking Failure in the War in Iraq: The Cultural Turn and the Concept of “World” 65
- The Role of Philosophy in “Post-Truth” Times 81
-
III. What can Philosophy do?
- A Robot Took My Boyfriend and My Job: Positioning Philosophy for a Resurgence 105
- Good for Nothing: On Philosophy and its Discontents 123
- On Thinking in a Thoughtless Time 151
- Contributors 173
- Index of Names 177
- Index of Subjects 181
