On knowing what the facts are: A very brief history of epistemology and its political implications
Channel: Michael Hoffmann
Date: 2022-05-30

We are living in times in which matters of fact are becoming more and more contentious. Who won the presidential election of 2020? What are the facts regarding what happened on January 6 at the Capitol? Then there is declining trust in science and unfathomable belief in conspiracy theories. Many people are looking to philosophy and are asking for help: Isn’t there just one truth? This talk summarizes 2,500 years of philosophical debate on the nature of knowledge. It is intended to explain the importance of epistemological issues to students and non-philosophers interested in politics, and it invites a discussion on what philosophy can contribute to securing the epistemological foundations of democracy.