Have we moved beyond facts?

The idea of moving beyond facts often relates to the concept of a "post-truth" society, where subjective beliefs often overshadow objective facts. This shift has profound implications for discourse, politics, and society at large.

1. Dan Carlin discusses the challenges of making political arguments in a "post-truth" era. He emphasizes how questioning sources has become a norm, making it difficult to establish common ground for argumentation. This constant scrutiny of facts hinders meaningful debates and reduces reliance on historical examples or agreed-upon facts 1.

2. Ben Shapiro critiques the relativism where personal truths are often equated with objective facts. He argues that this equivalence undermines the foundation of meaningful dialogue and a functioning republic. He points out how rejecting verifiable facts in favor of subjective truths makes coherent conversation and societal agreement difficult 2.

3. Jordan Harbinger and Ray Dalio address the degradation of trust in the media and the legal allowance for misinformation. Dalio suggests that unchecked falsehoods in media could have dire consequences for societal cohesion and proposes a potential need for self-regulation within the media industry to prevent known falsehoods 3.

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     1

     Post-Truth Society

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     2

     The Battle for Reality

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     3

     Media and Democracy

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     4

     Deconstructing Grand Narratives

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     5

     Questioning Truth

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4. Stephen West explains that postmodernist thought challenges the stability of grand narratives that societies have historically relied upon. This critique encourages a deconstruction of these narratives, leading to a fragmented understanding of truth and making it difficult to maintain societal unity 4.

5. Sean Carroll provides a perspective on the usefulness of postmodernism in questioning long-held presuppositions, especially in ethics, politics, and social sciences. He argues against the concept of "post-truth" as a serious philosophical stance, suggesting instead that it is often used pejoratively against political adversaries. He highlights the importance of different methods for seeking and judging truth, even if they do not align with traditional standards 5.

In summary, the concern over moving beyond facts highlights significant challenges in maintaining coherent and meaningful public discourse, as well as the stability of societal constructs and democratic functions.