Understanding ignorance : the surprising impact of what we don't know /

Ignorance is trending. Politicians boast, "I'm not a scientist." Angry citizens object to a proposed state motto because it is in Latin, and "This is America, not Mexico or Latin America." Lack of experience, not expertise, becomes a credential. Fake news and repeated falseh...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: DeNicola, Daniel R. (Author)
Format: Book
Language:English
Published: Cambridge, Massachusetts : The MIT Press, [2017]
Subjects:
Description
Summary:Ignorance is trending. Politicians boast, "I'm not a scientist." Angry citizens object to a proposed state motto because it is in Latin, and "This is America, not Mexico or Latin America." Lack of experience, not expertise, becomes a credential. Fake news and repeated falsehoods are accepted and shape firm belief. Ignorance about American government and history is so alarming that the ideal of an informed citizenry now seems quaint. Conspiracy theories and false knowledge thrive. This may be the Information Age, but we do not seem to be well informed. In this book, philosopher Daniel DeNicola explores ignorance -- its abundance, its endurance, and its consequences.
Physical Description:xii, 250 pages ; 24 cm
Bibliography:Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN:9780262036443
0262036444