A Scientific Outlook for a Post-Factual World
In a climate of fear, the rules of public discourse become obsolete, and the open horizon of possible futures is narrowed to a single escape route that fear-mongers have decided is the only way forward. This is a poor way to cope with uncertainty, and it stands in striking contrast to the methods of science and free inquiry.
VIENNA – We have entered a disturbing new era. The sheer volume of false utterances and outright lies spewed during the United States’ presidential election campaign implies a growing disdain for factual knowledge, as does the proliferation of fake news disseminated without journalistic filters on social-media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.