Workshop Report: Facts, Fake News, and Social Media

We are compiling reports on each of our project workshops to show non-philosophers how philosophy can help us think clearly about social media. In this first report we discuss the themes that emerged at a workshop which invited philosophers working on epistemology – the study of knowledge – to apply their work to issues in social media.

Workshop Announcement: Democratic Self-Government in the New Public Sphere

6-7th December 2019 | University of Stirling, Stirling Court Hotel

This event is hosted by the AHRC-funded project Norms for the New Public Sphere, which brings together academic philosophers with media scholars, activists and professionals in order to investigate the opportunities and challenges that new social media pose for the public sphere. This second workshop will focus on  the self-governance norms that can enable a democratic public sphere to flourish.

Programme

Friday 6th December (Callandar/Dollar Room)

13.30 – 14.50 Simone Chambers (University of California, Irvine: Political Science)
“Is Fake News Destroying the Public Sphere?”

14.50 – 15.10 Coffee break

15.10 – 16.30 Gavin Phillipson (Bristol, Law)
“Regulating the New Public Sphere”

Saturday 7th December (Lomond Room)

9.50 – 11.10 Natalie Fenton (Goldsmith’s, Media Studies)
“Reclaiming Media, Power and Politics for Progressive Ends”

11.10 – 11.20 Coffee break

11.20 – 13.00 Tom Simpson (Oxford, Philosophy and Public Policy)
“The Political Implications of Interpersonal Trusting Relationships”

13.00 – 14.00 Lunch

14.00 – 15.20 Robert Talisse (Vanderbilt, Philosophy)
“Is Democracy the Problem?”

15.20 – 15.30 coffee break

15.30 – 16.00  Roundtable reflections on democracy in the new public sphere

Places are limited, so please register in advance if you wish to attend. To register, or for further information (including accessibility information), please contact Natalie Alana Ashton: nataliealanaashton@gmail.com.

Workshop Announcement: Epistemic Norms for the New Public Sphere

19 September 2019 | University of Warwick, Occulus Building Room 1.09

This event is hosted by the AHRC-funded project Norms for the New Public Sphere, which brings together academic philosophers with media scholars, activists and professionals in order to investigate the opportunities and challenges that new social media pose for the public sphere. This first workshop will focus on  the epistemic norms that can enable a public sphere to flourish.

Programme

9:30 am Coffee / Tea

10 – 11:15: Alessandra Tanesini, Cardiff
Bellicose Debates: Arrogant and Liberatory Anger On and Off-line

11:15 – 12:30: Jennifer Lackey, Northwestern
Echo Chambers, Fake News, and Social Epistemology

12:30 – 1:30 Lunch

1:30 – 2:45: Quassim Cassam, Warwick
Post-Truth, Lies, and Strategic Bullshit

2:45 – 3:00: Coffee / Tea

3 – 4:15: Alex Worsnip, UNC Chapel Hill
Deference and Democratic Citizenship

4:15 – 5:30: Michael Hannon, Nottingham
Political Disagreement or Partisan Badmouthing?

Places are limited, so please register in advance if you wish to attend. To register, or for further information (including accessibility information), please contact Natalie Alana Ashton: nataliealanaashton@gmail.com.