Global Issues Colloquium to Discuss Political Truths
Truman professor Taner Edis will present “A revolt against expertise: pseudoscience, global right-wing populism, and post-truth politics” at 7 p.m. Feb. 21 in Magruder Hall 2001.
Presentation Abstract: This is a golden age for conspiracy theories, science denial and deep suspicion of claims to expertise. Very often, the political context for this revolt against expertise is provided by increasingly powerful right-wing populist movements. Simple reaffirmations of elite forms of expertise, however, overlook how modern liberal politics too often demand public passivity toward sources of information–submission to technocracy rather than democratic participation. Furthermore, some favored forms of elite knowledge claims, such as popular schools of economics, are self-serving or have questionable legitimacy by academic standards. Our “post-truth” moment is in part due to elite incompetence, rather than just being an eruption of irrationality.
For more information about this event contact Amber Johnson at ajohnson@truman.edu.
Presentation Abstract: This is a golden age for conspiracy theories, science denial and deep suspicion of claims to expertise. Very often, the political context for this revolt against expertise is provided by increasingly powerful right-wing populist movements. Simple reaffirmations of elite forms of expertise, however, overlook how modern liberal politics too often demand public passivity toward sources of information–submission to technocracy rather than democratic participation. Furthermore, some favored forms of elite knowledge claims, such as popular schools of economics, are self-serving or have questionable legitimacy by academic standards. Our “post-truth” moment is in part due to elite incompetence, rather than just being an eruption of irrationality.
For more information about this event contact Amber Johnson at ajohnson@truman.edu.
