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The Misinformation Age

How False Beliefs Spread
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Misinformation Age by Cailin O'Connor and James Owen Weatherall explores how false beliefs spread in today's world, examining the roles of social media, human psychology, and scientific communication. The authors delve into the dynamics of misinformation and detail how societies can be led astray by incorrect information, while also discussing possible solutions for mitigating its effects. This compelling examination combines insights from philosophy and psychology to unveil the intricacies of truth and belief in modern society.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you are interested in understanding how false beliefs and misinformation spread in society. Cailin O'Connor and James Owen Weatherall explore the role of social dynamics and cognitive biases in shaping public knowledge, making it a fascinating read for those curious about the intersection of philosophy, psychology, and information dissemination.

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The social dynamics of “alternative facts”: why what you believe depends on who you know

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The social dynamics of “alternative facts”: why what you believe depends on who you know

“Empowering and thoroughly researched, this book offers useful contemporary analysis and possible solutions to one of the greatest threats to democracy.”Kirkus Reviews

Editors’ choice, New York Times Book Review   •  Recommended reading, Scientific American

Why should we care about having true beliefs? And why do demonstrably false beliefs persist and spread despite bad, even fatal, consequences for the people who hold them?

Philosophers of science Cailin O’Connor and James Weatherall argue that social factors, rather than individual psychology, are what’s essential to understanding the spread and persistence of false beliefs. It might seem that there’s an obvious reason that true beliefs matter: false beliefs will hurt you. But if that’s right, then why is it (apparently) irrelevant to many people whether they believe true things or not?

The Misinformation Age, written for a political era riven by “fake news,” “alternative facts,” and disputes over the validity of everything from climate change to the size of inauguration crowds, shows convincingly that what you believe depends on who you know. If social forces explain the persistence of false belief, we must understand how those forces work in order to fight misinformation effectively.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780300251852

Publisher: Yale University Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 14 April 2020

Country: United States

Imprint: Yale University Press

Illustration: 16 b-w illus.

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 140.0mm

Height: 216.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 280

About the Author

Cailin O’Connor is associate professor of logic and philosophy of science at the University of California, Irvine. James Owen Weatherall is professor of logic and philosophy of science at the University of California, Irvine, and author of the New York Times best-seller The Physics of Wall Street. Both are members of the Institute for Mathematical Behavioral Science. They reside in California.

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