New Books in Sociology Joel Best, "Just the Facts: Untangling Contradictory Claims" (U California Press, 2025)
Sep 20, 2025
Join sociologist Joel Best, a keen observer of social problems and author of Just the Facts, as he dives into why we struggle to agree on facts. He discusses how facts are socially constructed through language and shared beliefs. Best explores the roles of institutions like science and journalism in shaping these facts and the complexities of fact-checking. Additionally, he examines how denial can become an identity-forming practice, shedding light on the language that frames social issues. Expect a thought-provoking conversation that challenges your assumptions!
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Facts As Social Agreements
- Facts are social agreements shaped by language and shared conventions rather than preexisting nuggets in nature.
- Joel Best argues that what we call facts depend on social processes that assign meaning and measurement standards.
Time And Date As Conventions
- Joel Best uses timekeeping and the calendar as a simple example of a socially agreed fact.
- He points out that nothing in nature demands it's September 17th or six minutes past the hour; those are conventions.
Institutions Produce Different Facts
- Multiple institutions produce facts differently, including science, government, law, and journalism.
- Joel Best emphasizes that each institution uses distinct methods and each produces imperfect but useful factual claims.
