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The Role of Philosophy in “Post-Truth” Times

  • Paul Redding
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Why Philosophy?
This chapter is in the book Why Philosophy?

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.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Table of Contents V
  3. Acknowledgements VII
  4. Introduction: Why Philosophy? IX
  5. I. What Is Philosophy?
  6. Doing Philosophy 3
  7. The House Always Wins: Why Philosophy Isn’t Optional 15
  8. Why We Need Philosophy – and Philosophers 27
  9. Irreverent Thoughts on the Relevance of Philosophy 41
  10. II. What can Philosophy Contribute?
  11. Philosophy, Bias, and Stigma 51
  12. Thinking Failure in the War in Iraq: The Cultural Turn and the Concept of “World” 65
  13. The Role of Philosophy in “Post-Truth” Times 81
  14. III. What can Philosophy do?
  15. A Robot Took My Boyfriend and My Job: Positioning Philosophy for a Resurgence 105
  16. Good for Nothing: On Philosophy and its Discontents 123
  17. On Thinking in a Thoughtless Time 151
  18. Contributors 173
  19. Index of Names 177
  20. Index of Subjects 181
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110650990-009

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Table of Contents V
  3. Acknowledgements VII
  4. Introduction: Why Philosophy? IX
  5. I. What Is Philosophy?
  6. Doing Philosophy 3
  7. The House Always Wins: Why Philosophy Isn’t Optional 15
  8. Why We Need Philosophy – and Philosophers 27
  9. Irreverent Thoughts on the Relevance of Philosophy 41
  10. II. What can Philosophy Contribute?
  11. Philosophy, Bias, and Stigma 51
  12. Thinking Failure in the War in Iraq: The Cultural Turn and the Concept of “World” 65
  13. The Role of Philosophy in “Post-Truth” Times 81
  14. III. What can Philosophy do?
  15. A Robot Took My Boyfriend and My Job: Positioning Philosophy for a Resurgence 105
  16. Good for Nothing: On Philosophy and its Discontents 123
  17. On Thinking in a Thoughtless Time 151
  18. Contributors 173
  19. Index of Names 177
  20. Index of Subjects 181
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