Combatting Fake News: a Patočkean Analysis Promoting a Socratic Attitude and Active Citizenship.

Jessica Margriet Naomi SOFIZADE

Master's thesis

The political crisis in Europe: a Patočkean interpretation.

Abstract:

One of the most heated subjects which is currently being debated on an international scale is the problem of 'fake news'. It is widely considered a significant challenge for contemporary societies, and has even been called a threat to liberal democracies. This paper will investigate how are we able to combat this problem and find a long-term solution, in order to protect our societies from the harmful consequences of fake news. This will lead to an examination of the position of truth in the political sphere, its role in our epistemic lives, and the place truth has within news and media. It will be shown that fake news can be understood as essentially a problem concerning truth, our relationship to it, and its role in the political sphere. This issue will be explored using the case study of Jan Patočka, whose philosophical analysis can provide an illuminating way of understanding and finding a solution to fake news. Additionally, the example of Sweden will be examined in order to demonstrate how my conclusions can be implemented in practice. The latter empirical case study will demonstrate ways in which critical citizens can be fostered in a society. Overall, it will be argued that the best long-term way in which we can combat fake news is through the constant search for truth and for justifications for our beliefs, as well as taking responsibility for our knowledge. This solution to fake news necessitates independent responsibility, a 'Socratic' attitude towards truth, and active citizenship, which together constitute a political mode of existence. In addition to personal responsibility, institutional responsibility is vital in order to engender this attitude amongst citizens. This can be done through education or promoting media literacy, as well as ensuring an open society in which debate is encouraged, and returning the authority of truth in the public sphere. The proposed conclusion therefore emphasises the significance of the individual, who must be epistemically responsible for their beliefs, and the importance of institutions, which play a crucial role in making critical citizens. Fake news must be targeted at its fundamental level, namely as a problem of truth, and it is therefore vital that a Socratic attitude be encouraged in current liberal democracies, before there are further significant political events which are influenced by fake news.

Abstract:

One of the most heated subjects which is currently being debated on an international scale is the problem of 'fake news'. It is widely considered a significant challenge for contemporary societies, and has even been called a threat to liberal democracies. This paper will investigate how are we able to combat this problem and find a long-term solution, in order to protect our societies from the harmful consequences of fake news. This will lead to an examination of the position of truth in the political sphere, its role in our epistemic lives, and the place truth has within news and media. It will be shown that fake news can be understood as essentially a problem concerning truth, our relationship to it, and its role in the political sphere. This issue will be explored using the case study of Jan Patočka, whose philosophical analysis can provide an illuminating way of understanding and finding a solution to fake news. Additionally, the example of Sweden will be examined in order to demonstrate how my conclusions can be implemented in practice. The latter empirical case study will demonstrate ways in which critical citizens can be fostered in a society. Overall, it will be argued that the best long-term way in which we can combat fake news is through the constant search for truth and for justifications for our beliefs, as well as taking responsibility for our knowledge. This solution to fake news necessitates independent responsibility, a 'Socratic' attitude towards truth, and active citizenship, which together constitute a political mode of existence. In addition to personal responsibility, institutional responsibility is vital in order to engender this attitude amongst citizens. This can be done through education or promoting media literacy, as well as ensuring an open society in which debate is encouraged, and returning the authority of truth in the public sphere. The proposed conclusion therefore emphasises the significance of the individual, who must be epistemically responsible for their beliefs, and the importance of institutions, which play a crucial role in making critical citizens. Fake news must be targeted at its fundamental level, namely as a problem of truth, and it is therefore vital that a Socratic attitude be encouraged in current liberal democracies, before there are further significant political events which are influenced by fake news.

Keywords

fake news, Patočka, active citizenship, Socrates, disinformation, social media, truth

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 18. 7. 2018

Accessible from:: 31. 12. 2999

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: doc. Mgr. Jan Stejskal, M.A., Ph.D.

PALACKÝ UNIVERSITY OLOMOUC

Faculty of Arts

Master programme / field:
Humanities / Euroculture