5 years ago

S1E15 - The Assassination of Truth

Lies, Lies, and More Lies

Death by Ignorance

Program notes – Episode 15 – The Assassination of Truth

References

1) An article from Chris Cillizza on truth in the 2016 US election https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-campaign-republican-us-election-2016-what-it-says-about-a7022276.html 2) Michael Deacon, writing in the Daily Telegraph (UK) on post-truth politics https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/09/in-a-world-of-post-truth-politics-andrea-leadsom-will-make-the-p/ 3) Gay Alcorn’s article on post-truth politics and the irrelevance of facts from 2014 http://www.theage.com.au/comment/facts-are-futile-in-an-era-of-posttruth-politics-20140227-33m70.html 4) Richard Kreitner of The Nation giving some historical perspective on post-truth politics https://www.thenation.com/article/post-truth-and-its-consequences-what-a-25-year-old-essay-tells-us-about-the-current-moment/ 5) Sam Harris’ short book, “Lying” was a valuable background resource and is well worth your time to read – highly recommended 6) Paul Krugman’s article “The Post-Truth Campaign” from the New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/23/opinion/krugman-the-post-truth-campaign.html and a quote from the piece (that I didn’t include but is worth reading) … "[I]f past experience is any guide, most of the news media will feel as though their reporting must be 'balanced,' which means that every time they point out that a Republican lied they have to match it with a comparable accusation against a Democrat — even if what the Democrat said was actually true or, at worst, a minor misstatement." 7) Ralph Keyes (2004). “The Post-Truth Era: Dishonesty and Deception in Contemporary Life”, A highly recommended read. The pages I referred to are 127 and 128.

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My oblique reference to Kant’s stability came from Bruce’s Song, written by Eric Idle of Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Do yourself a favor and watch Eric performing the piece in his living room – it’s on YouTube. Also, find the footage of the song being sung by the great Christopher Hitchens. He is sorely missed.

Bruce’s Song

Immanuel Kant was a real pissant Who was very rarely stable Heidegger, Heidegger was a boozy beggar Who could think you under the table

David Hume could out-consume Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel And Wittgenstein was a beery swine Who was just as sloshed as Schlegel

There's nothing Nietzche couldn't teach ya 'Bout the raising of the wrist Socrates, himself, was permanently pissed

John Stuart Mill, of his own free will On half a pint of shandy was particularly ill Plato, they say, could stick it away Half a crate of whiskey every day

Aristotle, Aristotle was a bugger for the bottle Hobbes was fond of his dram And René Descartes was a drunken fart "I drink, therefore I am"

Yes, Socrates, himself, is particularly missed A lovely little thinker But a bugger when he's pissed

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