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 knowledgeThe individualistic bias in traditional epistemology and its social extensionHow scientific consensus functions and its limitations in a post-truth landscapeThe conceptual framework of trust, delegation of risk, and accountability in expertiseChallenges of verifying information in the era of social media and misinformationThe impact of AI and technological change on the future of learning and knowledge productionThe role of the intellectual as a truth-teller and critic of groupthinkThe influence of conspiracy theories and meta-languages in shaping worldviewsThe importance of education, curation, and rhetorical skills in developing discernmentThe resilience of democratic systems and the need for checks, balances, and reversibilityTIMESTAMPS: 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 KnowledgeA Player's Guide to the Post-Truth Condition: The Name of the GameThe Intellectual: The Positive Power of Negative ThinkingOther things mentioned: Jürgen Habermas Feynman and Cargo Cults
