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

#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 [https://twitter.com/stevefuller] His Warwick page [ https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/sociology/staff/sfuller/] Books of his mentioned: * Media and the Power of Knowledge [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Media-Power-Knowledge-Steve-Fuller/dp/1780930062/ref=sr_1_5?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.p3mjk4wAiiznh4zP2ff_5sBKDdFxayMk9EWUxpYSpLJ793tTdFoNvh7MrCnUjr_ILSf3d1cE0oVu8xjouTfFiPf6rPj38Tp5usl6uMGhIj4F-eUaQv3Fj5UkXQyhyCGncXMMYPgrJvubfZGPnDgJe5aMZwlh5Chiu4caEOVzlZo2JKnVgtrjQPHQ5vX2C9RESOtvOETMLKsifaWw1JF5kVvJ5gpW_DWXEFpl4OUK5hA.XGIlmG_k8zkyjQf1tYlDsbCblLyZB8xi1FaRFqKSpKs&dib_tag=se&qid=1781690015&refinements=p_27%3ASteve+Fuller&s=books&sr=1-5&text=Steve+Fuller] * A Player's Guide to the Post-Truth Condition: The Name of the Gam [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Players-Guide-Post-Truth-Condition-Sociology/dp/1785276034/ref=sr_1_15?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.p3mjk4wAiiznh4zP2ff_5sBKDdFxayMk9EWUxpYSpLJ793tTdFoNvh7MrCnUjr_ILSf3d1cE0oVu8xjouTfFiPf6rPj38Tp5usl6uMGhIj4F-eUaQv3Fj5UkXQyhyCGncXMMYPgrJvubfZGPnDgJe5aMZwlh5Chiu4caEOVzlZo2JKnVgtrjQPHQ5vX2C9RESOtvOETMLKsifaWw1JF5kVvJ5gpW_DWXEFpl4OUK5hA.XGIlmG_k8zkyjQf1tYlDsbCblLyZB8xi1FaRFqKSpKs&dib_tag=se&qid=1781690015&refinements=p_27%3ASteve+Fuller&s=books&sr=1-15&text=Steve+Fuller]e * The Intellectual: The Positive Power of Negative Thinking [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Intellectual-Positive-Power-Negative-Thinking/dp/1840466537/ref=sr_1_4?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.p3mjk4wAiiznh4zP2ff_5sBKDdFxayMk9EWUxpYSpLJ793tTdFoNvh7MrCnUjr_ILSf3d1cE0oVu8xjouTfFiPf6rPj38Tp5usl6uMGhIj4F-eUaQv3Fj5UkXQyhyCGncXMMYPgrJvubfZGPnDgJe5aMZwlh5Chiu4caEOVzlZo2JKnVgtrjQPHQ5vX2C9RESOtvOETMLKsifaWw1JF5kVvJ5gpW_DWXEFpl4OUK5hA.XGIlmG_k8zkyjQf1tYlDsbCblLyZB8xi1FaRFqKSpKs&dib_tag=se&qid=1781690015&refinements=p_27%3ASteve+Fuller&s=books&sr=1-4&text=Steve+Fuller] Other things mentioned: Jürgen Habermas [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%BCrgen_Habermas] Feynman and Cargo Cults [https://calteches.library.caltech.edu/51/2/CargoCult.htm]

#16 Solving the Manosphere w/Godesulloh aka @Vibesestvida

Hello! In this episode the wonderful Godesulloh and I sit down and have a long chat about the Manosphere. We talk about our experiences being exposed to it, the rise and fall of Jordan Peterson, agency and morality under oppression and more!  TIMESTAMPS: * 1:03 We are outflanked in what we're up again * 1:42 Jack nearly got sucked down the alt right pickup pipeline * 8:42 Godesulloh's experience of it * 16:22 Jordan Peterson, the final boss * 21:32 Discussing Peterson's ideas seriously * 30:12 Actually reading feminist literature * 39:32 John Rawls's Veil of Ignorance * 40:53 Jack's video on Misandry that got taken down * 48:42 Agency and morality under oppression * 56:07 "I gave up facts and logic years ago" * 1:04:16 What will get us there, and dignity * 1:12:21 the asymmetries of social media * 1:18:07 The Brock Turner case * 1:22:00 Liberation philosophies, raising everybody up * 1:22:47 Sexual assault of men played for laughs * 1:25:28 Devil's advocate * 1:31:17 The world is more than this * 1:34:39 Understanding that certain people have good reasons to be angry * 1:37:37 The fallacy of the individual defining the group * 1:38:12 Do you really want praise from these people? * 1:39:26 It's easier to be a Great man than a Good man * 1:46:51 Closing remarks Godesulloh has all of his links through here: https://msha.ke/godesulloh His youtube channel is here: https://www.youtube.com/@vibesestvida And my socials are: https://www.instagram.com/jack.lawro/ for IG https://www.tiktok.com/@jack.lawrofor TikTok https://www.Jacklawrence.net for my website

#15 Fighting misinformation and the case for Gen AI video with Avisha aka @distilledscience

In this episodeI interview Avisha Nessaiver aka Distilled Science following our back and forth over tiktok/Instagram on gen AI video. I start out by interviewing him in general, then about an hour in we get into the AI stuff. Timestamps below: 01:55 – The Science of Touch and Oxytocin 05:15 – Understanding Pain and Pleasure in Touch 08:09 – From Academia to Science Communication 11:08 – Innovations in Medical Technology 14:18 – Navigating the Challenges of Startups 17:12 – Misinformation and the COVID-19 Pandemic 20:04 – The Rise of TikTok as a Science Platform 22:59 – Debunking Misinformation in Science 26:07 – Reading and Understanding Scientific Literature 33:17 – The Importance of Context in Fitness Research 37:05 – Understanding Bone Density and Its Challenges 39:50 – Innovative Nutritional Experiments and Their Outcomes 49:36 – Optimizing Workouts and Sleep for Better Health ------- 58:10 – AI DEBATE STARTS HERE  1:01:41 – The Power of AI in Creative Storytelling 1:03:40 – Humour and Its Mechanics 1:07:12 – The Role of AI in Education 1:09:25 – Cognitive Tools and Learning 1:12:23 – The Importance of Statistical Literacy 1:16:13 – Navigating Misinformation in Politics 1:20:39 – The Challenge of Engaging with Opposing Views 1:25:55 – The Battle Against Misinformation 1:26:44 – The Future of Information Consumption More of Distilled Science: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@distilledscience? https://www.instagram.com/distilledscience/ https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@DistilledScience⁩ [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCW4lTjpYD8TdxlxEITb7ddw]  More of me: https://linktr.ee/Jacklawrence

#14 Killing God a Second Time: The Death of Truth and Trust

This essay starts with a simple question: how do we know what is true? In answering this I examine the collapse of trust in society alongside the rise of ideology as a substitute for rationalism. I argue that rationalism only works if we have the time and resources to enable it, and that these criteria are no longer being met. I posit that much as the Enlightenment killed God, we are watching it happen again. Rationalism is dying - the framework of truth we had is now breaking under the weight of volume, complexity, mistrust and ideology. What happens when rationalism fails? What happens when we kill God a second time? If you'd like to read this piece, you can do so here: https://open.substack.com/pub/jacklawro/p/killing-god-a-second-time?r=k9z53&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web  For more of me: https://linktr.ee/Jacklawrence https://substack.com/@jacklawro https://www.instagram.com/jack.lawro/  https://www.tiktok.com/@jack.lawro

#13 You Don't Have Thoughts, You Only Have Feelings with Nick Shackleton-Jones

You only have feelings. This is the paradigm argued for by Nick Shackleton Jones. Nick is the author of the book How People Learn, which offers an entirely new model for learning and cognition which he thinks can massively improve performance, learning, and education.   Nick is many things - he is an author, a speaker, a philosopher, a psychology lecturer, and has worked in both the academic and corporate worlds, including time at the BBC, Deloitte, PA consulting and others in positions centred around learning and innovation. He's a rare individual. I had so much fun talking to him. We talk about his ideas, philosophy, neuroscience, how best to learn, consciousness and AI, among many other things . There's a lovely mix of practical and intellectual stuff here, so I think there's something for everyone - please enjoy.   You can also find a video version of this podcast here: https://youtu.be/UdD6sbBeer4 TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro 01:22 You don't have thoughts, you only have feelings 04:36 The philosophical foundations 06:10 But what about maths? 10:16 What does "think rationally" really mean? 15:06 What is philosophy driven by? 17:49 Mandatory Stoicism dig 20:19 Nietzsche's point 21:44 Memory Champions 23:25 The Affective Context Model 26:59 Definitions of Memory and Learning 30:43 School doesn't help learning 37:33 Education reform 43:17 Why does everyone have to get along? 46:59 What's the difference using Nick's approach? 54:32 Making yourself care about what you need to learn about 57:37 We talk about World of Warcraft for a bit 01:03:42 Video games and Learning Design 01:06:37 Won't we just end up with Minecraft experts? 01:15:34 Advice for teachers 01:18:00 Should we rethink what intelligence is? 01:23:38 The problem of language 01:28:46 The AI question 01:33:29 What will technology be doing with us 10,000 years from now? 01:34:57 Does AI inevitably make us dumber? 01:40:39 How does Nick avoid nihilism?? 01:44:29 Pessimistic Meta-Induction 01:47:22 A joke about behaviourism  01:49:32 Does reality exist independently of our feelings? 01:54:58 What is Nick unsure of? 01:58:59 Why can't we create LLM's that have feelings? 02:03:34 Geniuses are affectation geniuses 02:05:49 Nietzsche's comedic life 02:12:08 What evidence could disprove Shackleton's paradigm? 02:18:09 Combating bad ideas online 02:25:28 Bad role models 02:30:15 The temptation of digital relationships for young men 02:32:09 The losing case for Reality 02:44:11 Where to find more of Nick's stuff For more of Nick: https://www.tiktok.com/@shackletonjones https://www.linkedin.com/in/shackletonjones/  His book is called "How People Learn: A New Model of Learning and Cognition to Improve Performance and Education" and can be found on Amazon and other booksellers For more of me: https://linktr.ee/Jacklawrence https://substack.com/@jacklawro https://www.instagram.com/jack.lawro/  https://www.tiktok.com/@jack.lawro