University Lecture Series Spring 2022 - Fact, Fiction, or Distortion? Staying Critical Online

Dr. Scott Stroud, Department of Communication Studies and Dr. Anita Varma, the School of Journalism and Media

The challenges posed by online misinformation seem novel, but they connect to issues that have been troubling humans for thousands of years. In this lecture, Dr. Stroud will explore the philosophical paradoxes of trying to be a critical reasoner in situations characterized by clashing partisan interests and conflicting beliefs. No one wants to distrust everything, but what is true in a world that constantly changes and surprises us? What does truth mean in our post-truth world? How can we direct our abilities of critical thinking to avoid both corrosive skepticism and mindless dogmatism? Drawing on traditions as diverse as the Greek sophists, Jainism, and American pragmatism, we will explore what sort of orientation we ought to take toward digital discourse if we are concerned with enabling democracy in communities afflicted by disagreement and polarization.

Misinformation spreads rapidly through online spaces, and even the savviest users often find it hard to distinguish distortions from accurate posts. A common tip has been to turn to “trusted sources” like personal contacts, news organizations, and experts with powerful titles – but what should we do when our “trusted sources” also (perhaps unintentionally) circulate distorted claims? In this lecture, Dr. Varma will provide guidance on how to spot misinformation, will offer criteria for assessing the quality of digital information, and will explain why slowing our scrolling may help us become better informed.