Jonathan Rauch, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and author of The Constitution of Knowledge, dives into the pressing issue of the epistemic crisis. He discusses Plato's Theaetetus and how manipulation shapes our understanding of truth in politics. Rauch advocates for the Constitution of Knowledge to nurture a reality-based community, highlighting the significance of free speech for minority voices. He also examines the impacts of social media on misinformation and the necessity for structured debate to uphold truth in our polarized society.
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insights INSIGHT
Persuasion and Evolution
Persuasion is a powerful tool for gaining status, but it can be misused.
Evolution might select for persuasive reasoning rather than truth-seeking reasoning.
insights INSIGHT
Status and Persuasion
Humans are driven by status, and being believed increases status.
This drive can be exploited by persuading people of untrue things that serve personal interests.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Trump and Truth Manipulation
Donald Trump's manipulation of truth is deliberate and strategic, based on his business experience.
Trump openly admires successful manipulation, even if based on lies, like the Swift Boat Veterans campaign.
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In 'Cross Purposes: Christianity's Broken Bargain with Democracy,' Jonathan Rauch delves into the intricate and often contentious relationship between Christianity and democratic governance. The book explores how the principles of Christianity can sometimes conflict with the democratic ideals of a society, leading to a 'broken bargain' that affects both the religious and the political spheres. Rauch analyzes the historical, philosophical, and practical aspects of this relationship, offering insights into how these two powerful forces interact and influence each other.
Trump: The Art of the Deal
Tony Schwartz
Donald J. Trump
This book is a mix of memoir and business advice, detailing Trump's professional and personal worldview. It outlines his approach to deal-making, including his eleven key elements for success, such as 'Think Big,' 'Maximize Your Options,' and 'Have Fun.' The book offers insights into Trump's business strategies, his interactions with various figures, and his approach to negotiating deals. It also provides a glimpse into his personal life and how he runs his organization[1][3][5].
Theaetetus
Benjamin Jowett
Plato
In 'Theaetetus', Plato delves into the question of what constitutes knowledge, examining three definitions: knowledge as perception, true judgment, and true judgment with an account. Through Socratic dialogue, Plato critiques these definitions, ultimately concluding that none are satisfactory. The dialogue is a seminal work on epistemology, highlighting the challenges of defining knowledge.
Jim talks with Jonathan Rauch about the ideas in his book The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth. They discuss the epistemic crisis, Plato's Theaetetus, Trump & propaganda techniques, the Constitution of Knowledge as a framework for epistemics, the "marketplace of ideas" metaphor, the reality-based community, the personal-institutional spiral, the social funnel of knowledge, social media's impact on epistemics, advertising vs subscription models, meme space pollution, the anti-vax movement, the importance of free speech to the gay rights movement, recommendations for defending truth, supporting institutions, speaking out against misinformation, maintaining viewpoint diversity, and much more.
Episode Links
The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth, by Jonathan Rauch
Plato's Theaetetus
Heterodox Academy
JRS EP273 - Gregg Henriques on the Unified Theory of Knowledge
Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies Into Reality, by Renée DiResta
Cross Purposes: Christianity's Broken Bargain with Democracy, by Jonathan Rauch
Jonathan Rauch, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, is the author of eight books and many articles on public policy, culture, and government. He is a contributing writer for The Atlantic and recipient of the 2005 National Magazine Award, the magazine industry’s equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize. His latest book, published in 2021 by the Brookings Press, is The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth, a spirited and deep-diving account of how to push back against disinformation, canceling, and other new threats to our fact-based epistemic order.
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