Truth lies and bullshit
We live in a world of fake news, alternative facts, doublespeak, "truthiness" and "post-truth" politics. We are surrounded by lies and deception, propaganda and false advertising. In such an environment, how can we form beliefs in a responsible way? Who should we believe and how do we avoid being duped, deceived and manipulated? How can we ensure that marginalized voices are properly heard? Is the truth important or worth pursuing in the first place? Does lying require the intent to deceive? Is there a difference between lying and misleading? How do we recognize bullshit and call it out? This course will cover a wide range of topics in epistemology, philosophy of language, and metaphysics with an eye to the moral and political dimensions of the questions raised above.