Echo Chambers (Life in the Golden Age of Disinformation)

We live in the age of information — and misinformation. In this episode of Friendly Neighborhood Philosopher, we explore what philosophers call epistemology: how we know what we know.

We’ll look at how epistemic bubbles filter information by omission, how echo chambers weaponize that filtering for power, and why some people give “runaway credence” to authority figures who don't deserve it.

Drawing on the work of philosopher C. Thi Nguyen, we’ll talk about:

• Why “knowledge” requires more than belief — it needs justification and truth.
• How algorithms and ideology can shape our reality.
• Why some people trust political figures more than doctors.
• How insider language (“TDS,” “woke mind virus,” “lamestream media”) builds community — and traps it.
• And finally, how to build distributed epistemic networks — healthy, truth-seeking communities that can hold disagreement without dissolving into distrust.

This one’s all about freeing your mind — and helping others free theirs.