The Issue of the Pragmatist Sources of Post‑Truth, Considered in the Light of William James’ Definition of Truth
“The post‑truth era” is one of the terms characteristic of modern times. It describes the widespread acceptance of deception and manipulation in public life, especially in the mass media. The investigation presented here first seeks to clarify the phenomenon of post‑truth, on the basis of an analysi...
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| Published in | Forum philosophicum (Kraków, Poland) Vol. 30; no. 1 |
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| Main Author | |
| Format | Journal Article |
| Language | English |
| Published |
27.06.2025
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| Online Access | Get full text |
| ISSN | 1426-1898 2353-7043 |
| DOI | 10.35765/forphil.2025.3001.10 |
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| Summary: | “The post‑truth era” is one of the terms characteristic of modern times. It describes the widespread acceptance of deception and manipulation in public life, especially in the mass media. The investigation presented here first seeks to clarify the phenomenon of post‑truth, on the basis of an analysis of those authors who have proposed and popularized the concept, such as Steve Tesich, Ralph Keyes and Matthew d’Ancona. Next, it explores the thesis put forward by Dariusz Juruś regarding the influence of the philosophy of pragmatism on the development of post‑truth. In order to evaluate that thesis, William James’ conception is examined, including his definition of truth, his radical empiricism, and the idea of a genuine option. It turns out that the American philosopher’s pragmatism can undoubtedly not be counted among the sources of post‑truth. |
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| ISSN: | 1426-1898 2353-7043 |
| DOI: | 10.35765/forphil.2025.3001.10 |