Perspectives on Post-Truth

This volume tackles an array of complex and interrelated phenomena which are usually referred to as the post-truth condition – from confirmation bias to science denialism, misinformation, and the rise of polarized ‘epistemic tribes’ on social media. Based on a multi-disciplinary approach, the book seeks not just to chart the landscape of post-truth but to equip the readers with the intellectual tools to navigate and counteract its most detrimental aspects.

‘Post-truth’ denotes a cluster of phenomena that pose significant epistemic and societal challenges, including the proliferation of confirmation bias, denial of scientific findings, reinforcement of beliefs within echo chambers, and rampant spread of misinformation, conspiracy theories, and fake news―most notably via social media platforms. These phenomena have tangible effects, manifesting in a societal schism and contributing to public opinion polarization. Trust in scientific institutions and expertise is eroding, and the fragmentation of public opinion in opposed ‘epistemic tribes’ threatens the very foundations of democratic societies, undermining the role of scientific bodies in public discourse and policy-making. Drawing on diverse methodologies, theoretical frameworks, and expert insights, the contributions to this book scrutinize core post-truth phenomena through a multi-disciplinary lens and construct a nuanced understanding and an effective toolkit to confront the challenges posed to our social fabric.

Tailored for a diverse readership, including scholars in social and traditional epistemology, semiotics, and related fields, as well as an informed general audience, this volume will be particularly relevant for individuals interested in fostering their understanding of phenomena such as post-truth, science denialism, societal polarization, and their impact on democratic processes and institutions. It was originally published as a special issue of Social Epistemology.

Filippo Ferrari is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the University of Bologna. He received his PhD from the University of Aberdeen and held postdocs positions in the UK, Germany, and Italy. Ferrari is involved with several international research networks and has published extensively on a variety of topics, including two books on truth.

Anna Maria Lorusso is Full Professor in the Department of Arts of Bologna University, where she teaches Semiotics, Semiotics of Culture and Analysis of Information. Her research is focused on the Semiotics of culture, with two main fields of research: logic of information (post-truth, fake news etc..) and cultural memory.

Sebastiano Moruzzi is Associate Professor at the University of Bologna. His main research interests concern relativism, the nature of disagreement, ontological theories, theories of truth, theories of vagueness. Moruzzi is also involved in research concerning didactic innovation and he is very active in doing philosophy with children.

Giorgio Volpe is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Bologna. His research focuses on issues in epistemology, philosophy of language, and philosophy of logic, particularly where those areas intersect. In addition to numerous journal articles, he has written two books on truth.