We revisit a curious academic debate in science and technology studies, or STS. After 2016, some claimed that leftist humanities scholars played a role in creating the post-truth moment. And Steve Fuller argued that there’s nothing wrong with that. He likens post-truth to a kind of epistemic democratization that we should embrace.
We read the third chapter from Steve Fuller’s book, Post Truth: Knowledge as Power Game. We also read three short essays that build on this debate. You can find those here, here, and here.
In the episode, we ask:
- In what way is the reactionary right similar and different to the science studies left?
- What would epistemic democratization really mean, and is that a good thing?
- How far are we willing to go with ideas that stress the social construction of scientific knowledge?
- Do we counter the anti-science right by defending scientists, or by offering a broader political vision?
- And more generally, what should the left do when the right takes leftish ideas?