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

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 knowledge
• The individualistic bias in traditional epistemology and its social extension
• How scientific consensus functions and its limitations in a post-truth landscape
• The conceptual framework of trust, delegation of risk, and accountability in expertise
• Challenges of verifying information in the era of social media and misinformation
• The impact of AI and technological change on the future of learning and knowledge production
• The role of the intellectual as a truth-teller and critic of groupthink
• The influence of conspiracy theories and meta-languages in shaping worldviews
• The importance of education, curation, and rhetorical skills in developing discernment
• The resilience of democratic systems and the need for checks, balances, and reversibility

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - I intro the episode

02:45 - Introduction to media, knowledge, and the social roots of epistemology

03:46 - What is social epistemology? Studying the social foundations of knowledge

05:14 - The individualistic bias in traditional epistemology and its limitations

06:29 - How social sciences contribute to understanding knowledge as a social process

08:31 - The received wisdom of scientific consensus and its limitations

09:30 - Trust as delegation of risk and accountability in expertise

09:59 - Risks and uncertainties in making knowledge-based decisions

10:57 - The role of expertise and the accountability of scientists and public health officials

12:23 - The delegation of risk in novel situations (e.g., COVID-19) and responsibility

13:50 - Post-truth: definitions, emotional judgment, and the demonization of alternative views

15:31 - The conspiracy mentality and cargo cult science in modern beliefs

16:29 - How meta-languages and different frames of reference influence perceptions of truth

18:02 - Living in a world of ambiguous meanings and incomplete evidence

19:24 - The plurality of meta-languages and the challenges for social coherence

20:22 - Education, informed skepticism, and the democratization of knowledge

21:13 - The resilience of systems like the US Constitution and democratic checks

22:12 - The shift from science as a unified truth to multiple, competing meta-languages

23:33 - Examples from social media: the Elon Musk saluting clip and the dress debate

24:59 - Language battles in cultural and political contexts, e.g., trans debates

26:25 - The limits of deliberation and slow democracy in a fast-paced digital world

27:35 - Democratization, leveling of credibility, and risks of populism

29:54 - Mechanisms like elections and reversibility as safeguards in democracy

30:54 - The importance of constitutional design and checks on power

32:38 - The influence of social media, misinformation, and the need for vigilance

34:03 - Decision-making in fields outside one's expertise and the role of skin-in-the-game

35:27 - Gambling and risk management as metaphors for epistemic correction

37:32 - Medical choices and the social dynamics of traditional versus alternative medicine

38:30 - Conspiracy theories: cargo cult science and the kernel of truth within them

41:01 - The limits of holistic conspiracy narratives and the importance of falsifiability

43:16 - The nature of information, power, and meta-languages in belief systems

46:34 - Cults, meta-languages, and framing in understanding across belief boundaries

48:37 - Recognizing the strategic communication of intellectuals and the role of truth

50:12 - The career of figures like Jordan Peterson: influence, controversy, and resilience

52:42 - Future of scientific revolutions, AI, and the changing landscape of knowledge

55:54 - The need for new metaphysics and the role of imagination in science

57:50 - Would Steve Fuller go to university if he were 18 today?

59:20 - The shape of knowledge: whole units, integrity, and the importance of curation

60:47 - The craft of writing, remixing ideas, and reflexivity in scholarship

62:50 - The importance of deliberate practice, observation, and self-assessment in intellectual work

65:52 - The evolution of media, from live broadcasts to AI and deepfakes

68:45 - The role of intellectuals as disruptors and truth-tellers in society

71:12 - The vulnerability, aspirations, and social responsibilities of intellectuals

73:07 - The charisma and influence of public intellectuals, exemplified by figures like Hitchens and Peterson

78:00 - The social function of provocative speech and challenging groupthink

79:54 - The debate culture: ethical concerns, meta-languages, and power plays

81:11 - Balancing the personal platform with responsibility and discernment in content creation

84:45 - Navigating knowledge in a world of AI, democratization, and future opportunities

89:22 - The potential of AI to generate new knowledge, the importance of asking better questions

93:20 - The enduring value of books, curated knowledge, and critical thinking

93:59 - Building mental maps, understanding the shape of knowledge, and the resonance of ideas

94:58 - Trust, fallibility, and the role of falsifiability in social risk management

96:38 - The art of writing, remixing, and shaping ideas over time

102:32 - How to start engaging with Fuller's work and the importance of critical engagement

More Steve Fuller

Twitter: https://x.com/ProfSteveFuller

His Warwick page

Books of his mentioned:

• Media and the Power of Knowledge
• A Player's Guide to the Post-Truth Condition: The Name of the Game
• The Intellectual: The Positive Power of Negative Thinking

Other things mentioned:

Jürgen Habermas

Feynman and Cargo Cults