Echo Chambers, Fake News, and Social Epistemology

Tuesday, March 3, 2020 | 5:30 p.m.
Smith Alumni Center Event Hall
Free and open to the public | RSVP requested

Guest Speaker: Jennifer Lackey, Ph.D.
Wayne and Elizabeth Jones Professor of Philosophy, Northwestern University
Director, Northwestern Prison Education Program

Intense political polarization, the spread of fake news, and the degradation of democracy often are said to be caused or exacerbated by echo chambers — the term given to “one-sided” sources of information. Dr. Lackey will discuss why she does not think echo chambers are the real problem. Use social epistemology – a field devoted to understanding the social dimensions of knowledge – Dr. Lackey will analyze the harms of fake news and other distorting influences like social media bots.

For more information about the Bodaken Philosophy Symposium, visit the philosophy department website.