[Ideas] Julian Baggini: Consolations for a Post-Truth World

How did we find ourselves in a ‘post-truth’ world of lies, deception, and ‘alternative facts’? And can we get out of it? Philosopher Julian Baggini sets out to answer these questions by looking at the complex history of truth and falsehood. He takes us through different types of supposed and real truths and explains there is no one type of truth that we can rely on unquestioningly. That, however, does not mean the truth can never be established. Truth has become much less plain and simple, but people have not ceased to believe in it. Attaining truth is an achievement we need to work for. Baggini provides us with all we need to restore faith in the value and possibility of truth. A needed antidote for all truth-seekers.

ABOUT

Julian Baggini is a British philosopher, and the author of several books about philosophy written for a general audience. He is co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Philosophers’ Magazine, and also writes and broadcasts for The Guardian and the BBC. He has written for numerous newspapers and magazines, as well as for the think tanks The Institute of Public Policy Research, Demos and Counterpoint.

GOOD READS 

A History of Truth: Consolations for a post-truth world (2017)

Freedom Regained: The Possibility of Free Will (2015)

The Ego Trick (2012)

Should You Judge This Book by Its Cover? (2009)

Welcome to Everytown: a journey into the English mind (2007)

The Pig that Wants to be Eaten and 99 other thought experiments (2005) What’s It All about? Philosophy and the meaning of life (2004)

Atheism: A Very Short Introduction (2003)