Guest Lee McIntyre, Research Fellow at the Center for Philosophy and History of Science at Boston University, discusses disinformation and protecting democracy with Michael Shermer. They cover topics such as the source of disinformation, erosion of democracy under Trump, the impact of misinformation on voter behavior, effectiveness of masks, balancing extremism, and engaging in meaningful conversations to fight disinformation.
Understanding the motives behind disinformation is crucial in combating its effects on society and democracy.
Being aware of the agendas behind the information we encounter helps navigate the landscape of disinformation and protect against its harmful effects.
Building resistance to disinformation requires promoting critical thinking, media literacy, and education about strategies and sources.
Deep dives
The impact of disinformation and the need to fight it
Disinformation is a major concern that needs to be addressed as it spreads lies and manipulates people's beliefs. Lee McIntyre, in his podcast episode on disinformation, highlights its dangers and the need to fight for truth and protect democracy. He emphasizes that misinformation is an accident, whereas disinformation is intentional and often propagated by those with ulterior motives. McIntyre draws connections between science denial, election denial, and the role of disinformation in shaping people's beliefs. He suggests that understanding the sources and strategies behind disinformation is crucial to combat its effects on society and democracy.
The importance of questioning motives behind information
McIntyre brings attention to the significance of questioning the motives of those generating and spreading information. He emphasizes that beliefs aren't formed by random occurrences, but rather influenced by intentional disinformation campaigns. Recognizing the potential presence of lies and propaganda helps individuals develop critical thinking skills and become more resistant to manipulations. McIntyre asserts that being aware of the agendas behind the information we encounter is crucial in navigating the landscape of disinformation and protecting ourselves from its harmful effects.
The threat of disinformation in the political landscape
The podcast episode delves into the potential consequences of disinformation in politics and democracy. McIntyre raises concerns about the possibility of disinformation being employed in election denial and its parallel to science denial. He argues that understanding the tactics and sources of disinformation is crucial when faced with political figures who utilizes these strategies to deceive the public. McIntyre also highlights the role of social media platforms in amplifying disinformation and the need for increased transparency and responsibility in combating its spread.
Building resistance to disinformation
The podcast episode concludes by discussing the concept of building resistance to disinformation. McIntyre suggests that society needs to develop immunity to misinformation by being proactive in recognizing and addressing the tactics used to manipulate public opinion. He advocates for the promotion of critical thinking, media literacy, and education about the strategies and sources of disinformation. By equipping individuals with the tools to identify and combat disinformation, society can become more resilient against its harmful effects.
Regulating Algorithms for Transparency and Accountability
The podcast discusses the need for regulation and transparency of algorithms used by social media companies. The speaker suggests that these algorithms, which currently operate as black boxes, should be subject to scrutiny by external experts to identify potential harm and prevent misinformation from spreading. The proposal includes the establishment of a nonpartisan regulatory board that would evaluate the algorithms and mitigate risks before they cause public harm.
Addressing Disinformation Through Awareness and Conversation
The episode highlights the importance of awareness and respectful conversations in combatting disinformation. It emphasizes the power of face-to-face conversations to humanize opposing views and challenge false beliefs. Examples of individuals engaging in meaningful conversations, such as coal miners discussing climate change and African American musician Daryl Davis persuading people to abandon white supremacy, demonstrate the efficacy of this approach. The episode also suggests that while individual efforts are important, systemic measures, such as tackling the amplification of disinformation by media outlets, can contribute to fighting the spread of false information.
Lee McIntyre is Research Fellow at the Center for Philosophy and History of Science at Boston University. Formerly Executive Director of the Institute for Quantitative Social Science at Harvard University, he has taught philosophy at Colgate University, Boston University, Simmons University, Tufts Experimental College, and Harvard Extension School. He is the author of Dark Ages, Post-Truth, The Scientific Attitude, and How to Talk to a Science Denier. His new book is On Disinformation: How to Fight for Truth and Protect Democracy.
Shermer and McIntyre discuss: default to truth theory • RFK Jr. • whether reason evolved for veridical perception or group identity? • How do we know what is true and what to believe? • What is disinformation? • worst case scenarios if Donald Trump wins in 2024 • trans issues, race issues, GMOs, nuclear power, climate doomsdayism • facts and values • science and morality • What went wrong during the COVID-19 pandemic? • lies and disinformation about masks and vaccines • social media companies responsibility for disinformation • what we should do personally and politically about disinformation.
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